Since graduating from the University of Oregon, former Pitman High volleyball star Lindsey Vander Weide has been playing professionally overseas.

“I played in Europe for three years in France, Hungary and Greece,” said Vander Weide, a 2015 Pitman grad who helped guide the Pride to a pair of Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championships in 2013 and 2014, as well as a 2014 Northern California title I her senior campaign. “Last year I played in the Philippines and we won the championship and I won MVP of the league and it was really exciting. Immediately after that, I played in Puerto Rico for three months.”

Now, she’s back in the U.S. and playing for Athletes Unlimited in Arizona.

It’s a professional league with a few interesting twists.

“We play three games a week — Friday, Sunday and Monday,” said Vander Weide, whose AU games are carried on ESPN+ and ESPN networks. “And each week a draft happens and players are redistributed to new teams.”

Players are rated on a points system, based on individual and team statistics, and the top four players each week are named captains and get to choose players for the teams.

Another oddity is that a team victory is based on overall points and not on sets won. For instance, one team could win two out of three sets by scores 25-23, 10-25, 25-23, and still lose the match because it was outscored 71-60.

“Before I knew much about the league, I was just as confused as you probably are,” said Vander Weide. “But I’m getting used to it. And I am enjoying it.  It’s really cool to be able to compete with high-level athletes. It’s not some hokey league. There are legit professional players here.”

Perhaps the most unique aspect of the league is that each athlete plays for a specific charity. Players earn bonus money based on their performance and at the end of the year, the league matches the bonus with a donation to the charity of choice.

Vander Weide’s charity is the Humane Society of the United States.

Next year, she’ll join the Omaha Supernovas of the Pro Volleyball Federation, formed last November.

“I really enjoyed Europe and loved living in France,” said Vander Weide. And the Philippine culture was very inviting, which was different from European culture … some European countries don’t totally love Americans. But it was definitely a maturing experience for me, right out of college. It’s definitely something I wouldn’t go back on.”

Being able to play professionally in the U.S., however, is a welcome break.

“I loved playing overseas, but it definitely takes a toll after so many years,” said Vander Weide. “As long as my body lets me do this, and as long as I enjoy and love the game, I want to keep on playing.”