 "Photo: Brad Tollefson")
Jenn Goehry already has to perform a balancing act that involves graduating college and playing against some of the top collegiate volleyball teams in the nation.
Some might think adding marriage to the mix would make things a little tougher.
But for Texas Tech‘s Goehry — formerly Jenn Harrell — the obstacle of balancing marriage, school and volleyball is one that couldn’t be hurdled without the help of her husband, Doug Goehry.
“I honestly don’t know what I would have done this semester if I didn’t have Doug,” said Goehry, whose wedding was in August. “Being married has not added any stress, it has taken away stress. Volleyball is always a challenge like any sport and Doug is really encouraging.”
Red Raider volleyball can consume a lot of free time for any player, let alone a married one.
With the team having to travel virtually every other match, little time is left for Jenn to deal with life at home. Despite being away, she said she does her best take care of school and volleyball in order to have more time for her marriage.
“As far as priorities go, God is No. 1, and Doug is two,” she said. “It is really hard to balance. I just do what I have to do, which is I have practice everyday and class at the same time. During this time, Doug is working and in class as well. I try really hard to get my homework done while he is working or on the road so when he is home, it is just about him and I. "Everything else follows and because of my No. 1 and two, I am able to get everything done, stay sane, and even have time to cook dinner.”
Not to mention it is Jenn’s senior year, which is hectic enough in itself.
The Katy native should go out as one of the more memorable players in Tech volleyball history. She ranks sixth all-time in career digs with 1,199 as a Red Raider. This season she has switched between libero and defensive specialist.
While Jenn is on the court playing with her teammates, Doug tends to be right there with her. Her husband is regularly in attendance for Red Raider home matches to cheer her on.
Although such a lifestyle might take a toll on some people, Jenn’s faith and love for God is something Doug said continues to enhance her as a human being.
“I think the greatest strengthening of all has come from her optimism that has sprung out of the struggle of balancing school, volleyball, and marriage,” he said. “Jenn is almost always quick to seek the comfort of the Lord during the tough struggles, and the outcome is always a more optimistic, loving and spunky woman of God.”
Her teammates, who spend just as much time with her as her husband, get to see what she goes through.
The players tend to have morning classes and afternoon practice, which takes up most of the day.
So Tech outside hitter Caroline Courtney said how Jenn handles her daily routine is extraordinary.
“I don’t know how she does it sometimes,” she said. “She has quite a large course, like 18 hours or something. She has class in the morning starting at about six in the morning, then practice, and immediately goes home and the first thing she does is cook dinner for her husband. It’s pretty impressive to me.”
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