GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Grand Rapids Rise will play their final home game of the season on Sunday. It will be the last chance to see star opposite hitter Emilia Dimitrova play at Van Andel Arena.
Dimitrova will be saying goodbye to the audience that made her dream come true.
When the formation of the Professional Volleyball Federation was announced, head coach Kathy George had her work cut out for her as she had to assemble a team.
“I was a little hesitant about joining an overseas league,'' George recalls.
When she received information that the Bulgarian player was interested, she made a call that marked the first ever Rise team.
“Last season, I was in Italy when I received a message from Kathy,” Dimitrova said. “She was surprised because she had no idea who she was.”
Before Grand Rapids, volleyball took Dimitrova all over the world.
“Naturally, I started in Bulgaria, then went to Italy for half a season, then Romania, then Italy, back to Turkey, two more seasons in Italy, then one season in Japan, then three years in Turkey, “And then I spent my last season in Italy,” she said. “When I graduated from high school, my dream was to come to America. It didn't come true then, but it did come true a little later.”
The veteran came to America with an offer from a coach he had never met in person.
When she was welcomed by a packed Grand Rapids crowd at Van Andel Arena, she knew she had made the right choice.
“There was one word to describe it: real. It was real. It's real professional volleyball,” Dimitrova said. “And our fans were really great. Home. It felt like home.”
Her dream didn't end with going to America. With 17 years of professional experience under her belt, she had plans to coach the next wave of professional volleyball players.
“When I see a girl 10 years younger than me, I try to think, 'What was Emilia like 10 years ago?'” she said. “I feel more proud. When I help them and see them succeed and shine, I feel like this is also a victory for me.”
Teammate Claire Chausset said she was able to learn from Dimitrova “on and off the court.”
“What she went through and what she taught me was a great blessing,” Chausse said. “She’s so grateful to be on the same team as her.”
When George first called, he only knew the name of the person recruiting from Europe. As the season began, George announced that he had spent the last year of his professional career making his dreams come true, while also bringing in people around him who helped make the dreams of his teammates come true. I learned.
“She brings a wealth of knowledge to our entire team,” George said.
“I hope we can leave a better place after this,” Dimitrova added.
