Jenna Rosenthal always stands out wherever she goes – her 6’6” frame means she’s usually a head taller than everyone else around her.

She began playing volleyball at fifteen, playing to enjoy the sport and never thinking it could be something more. After receiving a full scholarship to Marquette University, Jenna threw herself into the sport. She led her team to its first ever Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2018, her senior season.

While she was still in college, the game took her around the world with the Team USA developmental pipeline, culminating in her invitation to train with the senior national team in Orange County, California and to represent the United States at the Pan American Games in 2019.

When not working in the gym, Jenna is often sitting with a book, seeking to learn more about whatever topic strikes her fancy that month. She is grateful every day for the opportunity to learn and grow, not only in a sporting context and is always amazed at the doors that sport has opened for her.

player stats

Position: Middle Blocker | Height: 6-6 | Hometown: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin | College: Marquette University

Get to Know Jenna

What advice would you give a younger volleyball player?

Show up early, leave late. You don’t want to wake up one day when your career is over and wonder “what if I had done ____.” You don’t have to go to the Olympics, or get a scholarship to be satisfied with what you accomplished- you only have to know that you did your best to become the best that you could be.

What does being an Ultra Athlete mean to you?

Being an Ultra Athlete means that you look at all areas of your life with the same lens that you analyze your training and competition. As athletes, it is obvious that we must develop our bodies, but more than that, being an Ultra Athlete means developing our whole selves; body, mind and spirit, to the fullest potential.

What is your favorite part of playing volleyball?

When you get to a point of competition where your instincts take over. Your years of training have prepared you to do exactly what you need to do, when you need to do it and blocking or hitting the ball seems to happen completely naturally.

What are you most proud of accomplishing thus far?

My most proud accomplishment in volleyball was being chosen to represent the United States at the Pan American Games.

Do you think other players should consider wearing ankle braces?

Yes! There are so many variables that exist when playing volleyball, especially in the front row. Unsteady landings, collisions with teammates or even a ball rolling under your feet could result in an ankle sprain. You don’t notice your ankle braces, until you feel your foot shift, and your ankle strain, only to be held in place by the brace, preventing an injury.

 

Jenna’s Preferred Ankle Brace