AANHPI Heritage Month: Noelani Beard, Former Rogue CC Volleyball Player
This story is being repurposed in celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, in partnership with the NWAC DEI Committee #nwaccares campaign. Follow the NWAC on social media (@nwacsports) for more stories in celebration of AANHPI Month all month long! Nominate someone or share your story for AANHPI Month HERE.
"From Oahu to Kosovo: Noelani Beard the first Pro Osprey"
On Wednesday, January 24th, 2024 Noelani Beard made Ospreys Athletics history by becoming the first professional athlete in program history. A storied start to her collegiate career led to Shaw University in North Carolina becoming the first NCAA transfer in Rogue history. At Shaw she built upon her success before graduating with honors and returning for her master degree playing out her final season of eligibility and winning the CIAA championship. That would lead to the ultimate athlete opportunity, a professional contract. And with that she was off to Europe to play for Fer Volleyball in Kosovo.
In the Spring of 2018 plans began to launch Women's Volleyball at Rogue Community College. Head Coach Christine Nelson would be hired in Spring 2019 and the first match would be played Fall 2019. One of the talents in the initial group of Ospreys Volleyball players was a 17-year-old Noelani Beard from Oahu giving everything she had for a first-year program. She would help lead that team to a South Region Championship and 5th place finish. Times were tough for everyone during COVID but Noelani persisted and returned to the program for a second season helping the team clinch back-to-back South Region Championships while earning First Team All-Region.
Fall 2021 Noelani would head to Shaw University in North Carolina. At Shaw she took the foundation she built at Rogue and established her dominance on the court earning back-to-back All Conference Honors, as well as All Tournament team, and CIAA offensive player of the year before graduating with honors. But Noelani had unfinished business and returned to Shaw for a master program allowing her to play out her final year of her college career. Afterward she could consider the business finished as they clinched the CIAA Championship, she earned All-Conference once again, and the team went to the national tournament.
Then in January 2024, after a collegiate career dominating in the classroom while building and improving as an athlete, a life changing opportunity arrived when Noelani was offered a spot at the Fer Volleyball club in Ferizaj, Kosovo. An opportunity to compete abroad and continue to grow as an athlete against some of the best. Noelani still plans to complete her master degree and pursue a career in law but for now she wants to enjoy the sport she loves taking advantage of an opportunity few get in life.
Noelani had already carved out a historic path for the Ospreys. Helping to launch a program that never looked back and becoming the first athlete in any sport to transfer to the NCAA. Her decision to turn pro adds another notch in her historic belt as she becomes the first professional athlete to come out of Ospreys Athletics at Rogue Community College. An amazing story gets even better and has us waiting to find out what is coming in the next chapter. For now, we celebrate!
Darren Van Lehn
Athletic Director
Rogue Ospreys
