"From D1 to D2: Benoit's Move Paying Off in Big Ways" - in follow up to "Markenzie Benoit Signs Professional Contract"
Markenzie Benoit, former SWOSU Volleyball player and graduate assistant coach for the Bulldogs, openly credits an unlikely move as the catalyst for her life when reflecting on how she has gotten to where she's at now as a professional volleyball player.
In the summer of 2021, Benoit was wrapping up her time in New Orleans at Division I Tulane University where she played on the volleyball team from 2017-20. With a lingering shoulder injury that gave her doubts on any future in volleyball, and true uncertainty as to what her future would hold, she was reached out to by an unlikely coach with an unlikely title.
Enter Josh Collins, head volleyball coach of Southwestern Oklahoma State University – an NCAA Division II school located in Weatherford, America.
"When we saw Markenzie on the portal, we knew we had to get in contact with her," Collins said. "Transfer Portal recruiting has many hurdles, especially when you are recruiting a player of Mark's caliber. However, we knew that if we could just get her on campus, we could show her how special this place is and have a real shot at a commitment. We were beyond excited when she committed on the visit, and we knew that she was a true Bulldog when she reported to preseason practices with SWOSU-Blue hair."
The next 18 months is history.
As a graduate transfer, Benoit had only one year of NCAA eligibility remaining when she came to SWOSU in August of 2021, but she made the most of it. Her lone season with the Bulldogs was filled with awards and accolades, putting an exclamation point on an outstanding playing career. Without doubt, her presence was felt throughout the Great American Conference, but those most affected might have been her new Bulldog teammates.
"The transfer from Tulane to SWOSU had a lot of us questioning how Mark would fit into the program," said SWOSU teammate, Samantha Kuzma. "We quickly learned that we had nothing to worry about. Not only did Mark come in with a positive mindset, she also lit a spark in our program. She showed us that our team was more capable of reaching our goals than we would've ever imagined. Mark instilled confidence not only in me, but in our entire team. She inspired everyone with her athleticism and attitude to build a more competitive mindset in matches and practice."
As a team, the Bulldogs pursued those goals and finished 20-8 overall while placing second in the GAC with a 13-3 record in league play. The 2021 season marked the third 20-win season in program history, joining teams from 2015 and 2018.
Individually, Benoit thrived and led SWOSU in attack percentage, kills, and blocks and found herself inside the top-five of multiple season records for the program. At the completion of the season, she was named the Great American Conference Newcomer of the Year and a First Team All-GAC selection.
Benoit quickly brushed off her personal stats when asked, but was fixated on one aspect of her time in Weatherford and was quick to reminisce.
"The atmosphere and crowds were incredible," she said. "I loved the support the community, fans, and students showed us all season. I didn't realize there was so much passion for volleyball at the D2 level until I came to SWOSU."
SWOSU Volleyball averaged 767 fans per game in 2021, ranking fourth in Division II for average attendance, finishing a perfect 9-0 inside the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.
After her career ended in the semifinals of the conference tournament, Benoit got to work fixing her shoulder for good with two surgeries. She was also hired as a graduate assistant coach while finishing off her master's degree. She sandwiched those two surgeries in between the new 2022 season and before she signed professionally.
"After two surgeries and being set back by a couple months, I was nervous I wouldn't be able to get back into the same groove I was in prior to having them," Benoit noted.
During the 2022 season, Benoit faced mindset challenges that came with transitioning from being a player to coaching, alongside the rehab required to heal her second surgery. She overcame them all, culminated with the acquisition of her master's degree following the fall of '22 semester.
"Coaching Markenzie was an absolute blast, and I am sure that the SWOSU faithful raves about their experience in getting to watch her play," Collins said. "It was even more fulfilling watching her battle through adversity to not only chase but attain her goals. She is a tough, hard-working human being and we are so happy that she gave this small school in western Oklahoma a chance!"
As Benoit embarks on her new professional volleyball journey in Kosovo, she says she's just simply thankful.
"I made lifelong teammates and friends at SWOSU and earned a newfound confidence in the sport of volleyball," Benoit said. "Coach Collins cares for you not only as a player but as a person and made Weatherford a temporary home for me. Without SWOSU I wouldn't have gotten this opportunity to continue doing what I love at an even higher level."
"My time at SWOSU was really something special," she continued. "I took a chance on a small town and they took a chance on a girl with blue hair and a bad shoulder. It turned out to be my best collegiate experience."
