Angela Knopf was born on April 27th in Portland, Oregon. Her parents Greg and Bonnie Knopf still live on the farm where she grew up located near the Columbia Gorge. Her mom, Bonnie is a talented musician and amazing worship leader in church as well as individual artist. You can see her on http://www.bonnieknopf.com/ Her father, Greg, is in Angela's opinion the “best doctor in the world” and has helped keep Angela healthy during her career. His practice is located in Troutdale, Oregon (Gresham Family Medical) and is well loved, especially by Angela. He also recently published a book on depression and is traveling around speaking in conferences while Bonnie sings at them.
The talent doesn't stop there, Angela has two brothers. Brent, her older brother has been in an nationally popular band and just ventured out on his own solo project, called "Ramona Falls" ( www.ramonafalls.com ) and has spent a great deal of time supporting and encouraging Angela to pursue her dreams. He currently lives in Portland when he's touring all over the world. Angela's younger brother, Eric, the family entrepreneur owns his own company called Vision Launchers (http://www.visionlaunchers.com/) as well as www.webconnex.com and lives in Sacramento with his wife Camille, daughter Scarlett and dog coco. His company is responsible for this outstanding website.
Angela attended Sam Barlow High School in Gresham, Oregon where she was a dominating three-sport athlete. She played Volleyball, basketball and tennis on varsity all 4 years as well as played club volleyball for Cascade Juniors and Nike Northwest Juniors. (http://www.nike-nw-jrs.com/) Angela has a love for Nike clothes and shoes, so she was spoiled there especially by the club’s well-loved director, Jim Hartner. But really it was in high school, that the love of sports, especially volleyball grew into a huge passion. She was blessed by talented coaches who invested in her and took time to really help her succeed. She especially connected with Joe Houck, who was the head coach at Barlow at the time and who she still reveres as one of the best coaches she has ever met. Her high school volleyball team won 2 state championships under the amazing direction of Joe. He now coaches at University of Portland. (http://www.uofp/vb) To cap off her high school years, her Nike club team concluded with a 2nd place finish at the Davis Festival. (club nationals)
Colorado State University would be the place Angela would choose to continue her education and she was awarded a full scholarship to play under coach Tom Hilbert in Fort Collins, Colorado. What she didn't know is that Fort Collins would soon become her new home filled with amazing life long friends and teammates and the best fans in the country. “Colorado State was definitely the place I was meant to go to college. I can’t even begin to describe the incredible blessings I had while there. My teammates, coaches and fans made my journey there priceless.” While at Colorado State, Angela helped the Rams reach as high as 3rd place in the national rankings, the highest the program had ever achieved. They had monumental wins over #1 UCLA at the NCWAA classic and well as 3 sweet sixteen finishes. She received many honors such as two-time first team Division I All-American, 2-time Mountain West Conference MVP, and Colorado Volleyball Sportswoman of the year. She left her mark on the record books in several categories, which still stand today and even left her senior year by holding the nations Division 1 top hitting percentage at .386. Not only was Angela a standout on the court but in the classroom as well. She was a mathematics major with an emphasis in secondary education and graduated with a 3.73 grade point average. She was honored twice to the Academic All-American team her junior and senior year. You can see her massive list of accolades until “career” tab.
Shortly after, Angela was presented with the opportunity to play with the USA volleyball Olympic national training team in January 2002 and she quickly accepted this amazing opportunity. It was quite the Christmas gift and Angela left school to begin her new experience at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs which luckily wasn't too far from home. There she met and worked with many of the most talented athletes in the nation and worked under coach, Toshi Yoshida. She was familiar playing the middle blocker position her entire career but was too short for the international competition so the team trained her as an outside hitter. In March of 2002, the team did a national tour and competed against the Chinese national team at four different locations in the Midwest. She started as the outside hitter and learned a lot, but perhaps the greatest lesson Angela learned was about injuries. While training she found out she had 3 bleeding ulcers and ended up leaving the team in late may to get healthy again. Overall the experience was so valuable to Angela's journey in volleyball and she was grateful for the opportunity to learn more. “Being on the national team was once in a life opportunity. I got to train with some amazing athletes and lived and breathed volleyball 7 days a week. It was super intense, but grateful I was able to learn and play for the USA.”
That next summer, although Angela never knew it, would be one of the most crucial summers of her "beach" career. Once healthy again, Angela and her teammate from CSU, Krista Swartzendruber, decided to play the Motherlode Beach Championships (http://www.motherlodevolleyball.com/) in Aspen, Colorado. When they arrived they noticed their names weren't even on the bracket and were seeded dead last. The pair had never played sand volleyball before but took one game at a time and with great chemistry together and hard work the pair found themselves in the finals!! The finals proved to be tough but ironically Angela and Krista pulled it off, they came out as Champions and their names were engraved on the court poles. The next year they went back to defend their title and won it all again, except this time their names were on the bracket! J This little success really caught the attention of Angela who was enjoying the new aspects of this beach volleyball game. It was more compatible to her "style" of game, since at 6'0 in college she was short in comparison to most middles and often mistaken for the setter. Great jumping ability and superior athletic talent was never Angela's strength, but what God did gift her with was a rare talent of vision and a knack for learning and game and strategizing. So with the success at the Motherlode, Angela started to think about the possibility of playing more sand volleyball. “I never knew playing in those few Aspen tournaments with Krista would be the foundation for me pursuing my dream of playing sand professionally. It was a blast!”
A few months later Angela was surprised to learn that she was awarded the female athlete of the year for CSU as well as the Fum McGraw award which honors the top student in the entire athletic department who exemplified commitment to academics, athletics, character and community service. Not only those prestigious awards were handed to her, but she was also named Colorado's NCAA woman of the Year among all female athletes in the state (www.ncaa.org/releases/awards/2002091301aw.htm) and a top 10 finalist nationally. She was flown to Indiana for a big ceremony in which they honored the top 10 finalists.
After all those incredible honors, Angela knew she wanted to go back to finish school, so she went back and earned a degree in mathematics followed by landing an amazing job at Fossil Ridge High School, a brand new high school where she would not only be a math teacher full-time, but the head H.S. volleyball coach. There she had a wonderful group of students and athletes who she adored enormously.
However, it wasn't until that next Spring when Angela competed in the Adult indoor Volleyball Nationals in Denver Colorado with her team "Team Able" in May of 2005 that she realized that playing was still in her blood. The team that actually featured Angela’s CSU setter Allison Peckham and teammate/beach partner Krista Swartzendruber, won the entire tournament and Angela was awarded the tournament MVP. After this Angela realized that she still had some playing left in her and moving to California might be her next chapter in life. So she prayed about it endlessly and talked with her family and friends and they all said, "Go for it" Angela recalls the reoccurring statements, "Go! You’re young and need to follow your dreams now, teaching will always be there for you to go back to." So Angela went for it. With the incredible encouragement from her family and special support from the Kranske family, she risked it all and packed her bags, left her amazing home of Fort Collins and said goodbye to her fantastic students and headed to the Los Angeles, the land of sun and beach volleyball.
After almost a year in California, Angela realized that the move was one of the most difficult things she had done in her life. She struggled a lot getting into the “mix” and figuring out everything out there. She left her friends, family and students to pursue her dream. She also encountered a lot of health issues for the 1st six months and wasn't able to even start playing volleyball till late march, when the season had already started. But Angela was able to still play in 8 AVP events (www.avp.com) and ended up making the "main draw" in two events where she played the #2 team in the world Elaine Youngs and Rachel Wacholder. Making the "main draw" which is composed of the top 24 teams in the country was a huge goal and for Angela and to be able to do that twice in her 1st year playing gave her hope and a taste of what she has been dreaming of. That same season, Angela and her partner, Carrie Wright also played in 2 EVP events (http://www.evptour.com/) and won both those tournaments as well and winning her 3rd Championship title in Aspen at the Motherlode Tournament. Angela and Carrie played so well together both valuing positive and encouraging partnerships. Angela was able to get her feet wet and gain a little understanding of what this professional volleyball tour was really like. She ended the season hungry, dedicated and ready to work hard all off-season to keep improving.
Another surprise and honor came Angela's way on November 3, 2006. She was inducted to Colorado State's Hall of Fame. Angela, along with her whole family, flew into Colorado and had a wonderful time at her induction ceremony even though Angela's speech was a big too long thanking everyone from her childhood friend to her teammates. Angela considers that weekend "one of the best in my life and the greatest honor of my career! To get this award and for it to come from CSU, a place I call home is so humbling and I am grateful for the opportunity to be placed with such great athletes at CSU."
After the induction Angela began working hard for the 2007 AVP season. She was now getting some beach coaching, and meeting more and more people in the volleyball world. The 2007 AVP schedule was released in January 28th, 2007 and the anticipation was overwhelming. Angela was ready for the upcoming season, for it would be the first season she would be able to play in all the events. On February 28th, 2007, Angela left for practice at 6:30am to start practice at 7:30am. Around 8:00am, Angela went for a ball and due to the very cold and windy conditions, the ball took a swerve and "jammed" Angela's hand, or so she thought. Although painful, Angela pushed through the pain and continued to practice for another hour and half until the pain was too unbearable. She left practice to go home and ice her "jammed" finger. Around 7:30pm the pain was getting worse, until one of Angela's students she tutored told her to go to the emergency room! Angela has jammed many fingers in her playing days but none had hurt the way this one did. So she found a hospital an hour away and drove herself there to wait in the emergency room for 4 hours before being seen by the doctor to get an x-ray. Finally around 2:30am Angela left the hospital after learning her hand was broken, while looking down to her arm in a cast wondering what was to happen to her AVP season. Ironically it takes 6 weeks for a broken bone to heal and exactly 6 weeks from that day was the 1st AVP tournament. The next 6 weeks were some of the toughest times for Angela, knowing she would lose her partner, lose all her training she worked for in the off-season, and would be behind once she was able to play again. She even contemplated quitting and moving back to Colorado to teach again, but her heart wouldn't let her go. The passion and dream was still alive and so she persevered. With rehab, Angela was able to get out of her cast in 4 ½ weeks, and started to get back in shape trying to play in the 4th tournament of the year. A couple weeks later, her old college CSU teammate Catie Vagneur-Mintz was looking for a new partner and the old CSU duo decided to team up.
In just their 2nd tournament together they made the "main draw" (top 24 teams) and it seemed as if they kept growing and improving from there. Each tournament was a blessing for Angela and she really started to love playing and enjoying this journey especially since it was so discouraging for her with her broken hand. Tournament after tournament Angela and Catie were finishing 17th place, the best both had ever done, until the season ended with a total of seven 17th place finishes! The pair did so well towards the end of the season and had earned enough points to not have to qualify in 3 of the last events. Angela really enjoyed playing with Catie and was so thankful that she persevered through her broken hand, for God really blessed her with her partner Catie and the experiences she was able to have on tour. However, one of the greatest highlights for Angela in the 2007 season was meeting new people and enjoying time with all those who have supported her so much. Angela knows that without her family and network of friends encouraging her, she might not have been able to make it through the 2007 season, but she did and feels so blessed by all the words, and efforts of those around her. "This 2007 season began so hard, but looking back on it now, God truly blessed me and I am thankful for the season we had, the people I met, and especially for all of my family and friends who were there for me along the way!"
Coming off a breakthrough 2007 season, Angela was ready to make some real strides in the 2008 season. She however didn't realize that would involve 5 partner switches and beating one of the most decorated beach volleyball players. Due to the late release of the 2008 AVP schedule (2 weeks prior to the first event) it was then when Angela found her first partner for the 2008 season, Saralyn Smith.
Their opening debut in Miami was a personal best for Angela with a 13th place finish and an excitement for the upcoming season. It also was her entrance into a new role, "the defender," meaning she would play all the defense for the team. Saralyn and Angela had immediate chemistry and each tournament they found themselves battling great teams. Over the next 3 tournaments (Dallas, Huntington Beach and Charleston) they finished with another 13th and two 17th. They also played the #2 USA Olympian team of Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh twice.
Although Saralyn and Angela were doing well, they weren't improving each week and Angela received an invitation to play with a highly ranked player, Lauren Fendrick, in the following event in Kentucky. As hard as it was leaving her wonderful friend and partner Saralyn, she knew that this was an open door and a great opportunity not to pass up. With only one practice, Lauren and Angela headed to Louville, Kentucky for their partnership debut. They barely won the first match together winning the third game 16-14. They would win their next match as well 16-14 in the third again to give Angela her first 9th place finish! Shortly after that win, they found their next opponent to be the #4 team of Holly McPeak (legendary player, 2nd winningest player ever on the AVP) and her partner Angie Akers. With nothing to lose, Angela played the best defense of her life and Lauren and Angela won the first game 21-18. Unfortunately, winning only one game isn't enough to win the match and they would have to win both. With Angela's defense and Lauren's blocking, they continued to play well and beat #4 team in the second 21-19 to take a 7th place!! "I think I almost did a cartwheel. That definitely was the best moment since starting to play professionally. I grew up watching and admiring Holly, so to beat her and play in such a competitive and fun game was the highlight of my beach career," said Angela after the match. Floating on cloud 9 didn't last too long as they had to play another game against the Lindquist sisters for a 5th place, and unfortunately didn't pull that one off too!
As great at a 7th place finish was, the partnership didn't last and Lauren decided to move on to a different partner a couple hours after the win which would set up Angela's third partner of the season, Stacey. She only lasted for one tournament in Atlanta before Angela picked up her 4th partner, Sarah Straton. Ironically Sarah and Angela beat Stacey and her new partner the in that very next tournament for a 13th place finish!! Over the next 3 tournaments Sarah and Angela finished with two 13th and a 17th. Perhaps the two most anticipated stops on the 2008 tour for Angela was back in her beloved Colorado and to Chicago. Even though the CO tournament would be on the campus of University of Colorado, (huge rivals to her Rams at CSU) she was so happy to be back on CO soil. "I was so excited for this event the entire season and once I got there I was happy to be "home."
The next weekend was in Chicago, "perhaps my favorite stop on the tour. We get to stay at Chateau Chin (my friend, Peter's place) and he is pretty much a professional cook, so it's the best food I eat all year!!" Even though the off court activities were memorable, the chemistry between Angela and Sarah was starting to decline and they decided to part ways to set up Angela's final and 5th partner, Brooke Langston. Without a practice they headed to New York where they shocked the #9 team beating them in two games 21-17, 21-18 and finished with a 13th in their debut together. The final two tournaments of the season the pair finished with 17th place finishes but had great chemistry and a potential to really improve for the 2009 season. This was the 1st full season that Angela didn’t have to qualify and ended up ranked 29th player at the end of the season.
After the 2008 season Angela summed up her experience, "It's easy to look at a season and base its success on the wins and losses and even though I had my share of losses and wins, I felt as a whole it was a great season. I can’t believe how many different teammates I played with but I can tell you stories of great adventure and experiences with old and new friends. I can tell you my heart has been touched in a way that I am unable to express in words. I have never been so encouraged, supported and loved by people who have been following me along my dream process. I am constantly in amazement when I experience the generosity of people like the Kranske's, Rayno (at the Egg and I), Theiszens, Abby (Barefoot), Peter (my wonderful agent) amongst so many more who I could fill 5 pages with. The sense of empowerment that goes along with people's support is indescribable. I also know the backbone of my success and survival is solely due to my family. They live and die on each point with me and I am so thankful they are along the journey with me."
Angela's favorite addition to the 2008 season was her fan club created by her brother, Eric. " My fan club has also been a blessing in my life. Many of you have taken the time to send me a note of encouragement or congrats along the way during the long season, and I have kept every one of them. I firmly believe that God has placed you all in my life for a reason, and know you have been there for me during those tough moments in pursuing my dream. Thank you!"
Angela’s drive and determination for the 2009 season was enormous. She trained harder than she had ever in her life and was ready to make a mark on the AVP in 2009. Little did she know her persistence and courage would make a long-lasting change in her life. She had always admired a famous coach/player, Liz Masakayan and was able to convince her to train Angela prior to the 2009 season. This gave Angela so much excitement and vigor and Angela was committed to being the best player she could be.
With the great end of the previous season with Brooke Langston, Angela had been planning and training with her all off-season and it wasn’t until 3 weeks before the 1st tournament, Brooke notified her that she was going to play with someone else. It was crushing to Angela, especially since they put so much time in together. But Angela didn’t give up. She found Janelle Koester and they played in 3 AVP tournaments together as well as one international tournament NORCECA in Dominican Republic. They didn’t win that volleyball tournament but ended up winning the beach tennis tournament happening right next to the volleyball tournament. “Winning the beach tennis tournament was super funny, I mush rather have won the volleyball won, but may have found a new sport I can try after this beach volleyball! Ha ha”
Janelle and Angela split after 3 tourneys and Angela picked up a rookie, a good upcoming player Raquel Caulkins. She was signed up to play 3 tournaments with her but after their 17th finish in Houston, the morning of registration for next tournament, Raquel left her to play with another player. This was especially devastating for Angela’s family and friends were flying to CA to come and watch them in the next tournament. “Unfortunately this is part of playing on the AVP, it’s a business, and if people don’t finish the way they want, they move onto the next person, and there isn’t much commitment out here. Its unfortunate but something I have to deal with if I want to play. I don’t agree with it at all but I can only control how I act, my own commitments and things I can control.” This caused Angela to have to sit out for the next few tournaments since she had told everyone she was playing with Raquel and everyone had their partners already.
Angela was deeply discouraged, but God had something in mind for her that she didn’t know. Chrissie Zartman was looking for a partner after the few Angela missed and they decided to pair up for the remaining tournaments of the year. Chrissie was so unique because she was only 5’4 yet one of the best defensive players in the country. Angela would have to change rolls to be the blocker instead of the defender and their 1st tourney wasn’t as great as they expected in NYC with a 17th but little did they know what was around the corner. The Manhattan AVP tournament, which is the “granddaddy” of ALL AVP tournaments, the tournament in which the AVP 1st started was just a couple weeks after the NYC tournament. Angela’s parents and little brother were coming to watch her and she was excited to play.
This tournament being the most “prestigious” one also was different in that it was a 64-team tournament not 24. Angela and Chrissie entered as the 26th seed and barely won their 1st game in 3 against a good team. This set up a match again #4 team which they lost 19-21, 21-19, 15-17. It was during this game that crowds of people started cheering for Angela and Chrissie and they became the team to watch. They won their next game to put in them in the tournament the next day as well. The next day, Angela and Chrissie ended up playing 6 matches, winning 5 of them. It was terribly hot and with only 30 minutes rest between games made it a huge fight for the girls. Ironically Angela beat all her former partners and ended up the tournament with a 7th place finish with Chrissie. There were so many people crowded around Angela and Chrissie’s court, each one of their games was packed. They were the team to cheer for and it was Chrissie’s best finish of her career. So a little 5’4 and 6’0 girls played their hearts out and with the help of all the fans and cheers, they made history together and were the talk of the tournament. “I can’t believe we got a 7th at Manhattan AVP, that was by far the BEST experience ever! I can’t believe all the people who followed us every game and cheered for us. I was so blessed and grateful to share that with my family and was so proud of Chrissie. She played her heart out!” The duo finished out the season together but by far the 7th at Manhattan was the highlight of the season!
After spending almost every weakened in a different city, Angela had a huge decision to make. It was now 5 years she was out in CA playing on the AVP and there were many emails going around about the dire financial state of the AVP. They were talking about not having a 2010 season and with that information, Angela made the decision to move back to CO. “I always prayed that when it was time to leave, that God would give me the peace to be okay leaving. This past year, I put every minute I had into training, all the money I had to travel and play, and I can now walk away knowing I did everything I could. I loved following my dream and if there isn’t a season, I want to be back in CO. It’s surreal to think of all the things I was able to do while playing out in CA, but I miss all my friends and living in Colorado and ready to be back there.” So Angela packed up her things, rented a u-haul and pulled back into Colorado in November of 2009 not knowing what her future held.
In March of 2010, the AVP decided to have a few tournaments and even though Angela lived in Colorado, her old partner, Brooke Langston, called her up and asked Angela to play in the few tournaments they had. Angela had a great ranking from her last finishes and Brooke needed someone with points. Angela felt they made a good team, so she agreed to play the season with her. They played in Fort Lauderdale, Santa Barbara and Huntington and did well before getting an email before the New Jersey tournament stating that the AVP was now bankrupt and would be cancelling the rest of the season. Angela was extremely disappointed but loved living back in CO and was ok moving on. “I was saddened by the announcement of the AVP going bankrupt. It was a great organization that provided me with such great memories and experience. I just feel so blessed and lucky to have played when it still existed! But now I can focus on doing what I love here, working with kids in Fort Collins!”
Angela then put all her time and focus into starting her two companies in Fort Collins that she still currently runs. She owns a tutoring company (www.high5tutoring.com), which helps students improve in school. “I love tutoring because I can really connect with the students and help them realize they can be successful in school!” She also runs a volleyball business full of clinics, consulting and running private volleyball lessons. “I never thought that all the experiences I went through, teammates, coaches, injuries, rejection, losses, victories, would make me the coach I am today and be able to help and some how relate to all the kids that walk into my gym. I love helping kids reach their potential as athletes and understand this game I love so much!
With “retirement” you think that Angela would actually take a break from playing, but even though she is not training, she still has won many local CO volleyball tournaments, got 4th in King of the Beach (yes - all men), and in the summer of 2011 she flew to compete in England’s professional beach volleyball tournament. And yes, Angela won the entire tournament, so it’s safe to say she still can play!
Quick and Fun Facts:
Date of Birth - April 27, 1980 in Portland, Oregon Profession - Professional athlete (beach volleyball), licensed high school math teacher and tutor, Volleyball coach Height - 6'0
Education: Colorado State University- Fort Collins, CO USA Bachelor of science - mathematics with concentration in secondary education G.P.A of 3.74. Two-time academic All-American
FAVORITES!!!
Food: strawberries (especially chocolate covered ones...like the ones my grandma makes and her banana bread!) YUM!!!
Number: Of course the number 5!! (without hesitation)
Dessert: Otis Spunkmeyer chocolate chip cookies and again the chocolate covered strawberries
Animal: Definitely horses
Movies: "While you were sleeping" and most chick flicks and of course the classic Star Wars!
TV Shows: The Simpson's (old one's) and American Idol (I live vicariously through the contestants.)
Car: Convertible mustang, or jeep wrangler (red)
Actors: Sandra Bullock and hot boys, Mathew McConeagh and Benjamin Bratt
Musicians or Bands: My mom's CD (Bonnie Knopf), brother's band (Ramona falls) and others like the fray and Jason mraz.
Color: Red
Athlete: Jenny Johnson Jordan (amazing AVP player and woman of God. Great character and lots of talent
Books: Anything by John Wooden, Erwin McManus (my old pastor)
Vacation Spot: Cabo san Lucas, Mexico (beautiful)
Restaurants: Cheesecake factory!! (Actually love the strawberry lemonades the most and chili's)
Season: Summer, love warm weather
Sports Teams: Colorado State
Hobbies: basketball, tennis, working with students and recently salsa dancing!
Heroes: My parents for so many reasons!!
Fun fact some people might not know: I love HATS!! I have 32 of them!
