ATLANTA — Graduate student Patrycja Zielinska breaks new ground as she has signed a professional contract to continue her volleyball career. Volleyball has been a calling that led her from a small town in Poland to the heart of Atlanta, and now to the professional stage in Switzerland.
Zielinska's journey began when she was just 10 years old in her hometown of Swidnik, Poland. Enrolled in a specialized sports class, she quickly discovered a passion for volleyball that would shape the rest of her life.
"What started as just something fun to do with friends became a responsibility, and then a passion," she said. "It was like a job, but a job I loved."
That early commitment paid off. Zielinska rose through the ranks of the Polish volleyball system, eventually earning a spot on a semi-professional team by the age of 16. Balancing practices with rigorous academics, she trained with older and more experienced athletes, often practicing twice a day while still in high school.
In her senior year, she encountered a chance that would change everything. Zielinska was approached by a newly established volleyball recruiter scouting for American college programs. What seemed like an impossibility at first quickly became a reality when she received a full scholarship offer from Temple University.
"I honestly thought it was a joke," Zielinska laughed. "I didn't believe it until I saw the paperwork. Coming to the U.S. had never even been a thought."
At Temple, Zielinska adjusted to a new culture, language, and style of volleyball. Practices became more intense. Strength and conditioning sessions pushed her past previous physical limits.
"I was on the edge of passing out," she said, remembering her first weightlifting session. "But little by little, I got stronger. I became one of the fastest players on the team."
After graduating in just three years with a bachelor's degree, Zielinska faced another crossroads. With one year of NCAA eligibility remaining, she entered the transfer portal in search of a new home for her final season and found it at Georgia State.
"The transfer process was stressful," she admitted. "But when I got on a call with Coach Flavia Siqueira, I immediately felt a connection. We're both international. We understood each other."
Zielinska joined the Panthers and quickly became a pivotal leader on the court. Her leadership and poise helped guide Georgia State Volleyball through one of its most successful seasons in recent history.
"This past season was special," Zielinska said. "Coach Flavia brought in so many new players and changed the culture. To be part of that transformation was incredible."
While completing her MBA in Business Analysis at Georgia State, Zielinska began preparing for her next leap into professional volleyball. Working closely with her agent, she signed a contract to play professionally in Switzerland with Volley Franches Montagnes.
"I'm incredibly excited," she said. "I'll be closer to home, playing the sport I love at a high level. It's the perfect next step."
Zielinska credits her success to the people who believed in her most, including her family who traveled across the world to watch her play and her first coach, Renata Lapa, whom she described as a second mom.
"She gave everything to our team," Zielinska said. "Looking back, I realize how much of her life she dedicated to us. Without her, I wouldn't be here."
Reflecting on her journey, Zielinska hopes her story inspires other athletes, especially international students who dream of playing at the collegiate level.
"Say yes," she advised. "Be proactive. Take every opportunity, even when you're tired or uncertain. You never know what doors it might open."
As she prepares to report to Switzerland in August, Zielinska carries with her the lessons learned from her years in the U.S. and the deep-rooted love for the game.
"I don't treat volleyball as a job," she said. "It's my passion. And I'm just getting started."
