November 10, 2023
We first got introduced to Danny Quay in his freshman year in 2019 at Rutgers-Newark. He was a talented middle, tall and gangly as a 6’ 6” freshman, with the face of a baby. But he certainly made a statement as a first-year player posting 109 kills and 53 blocks over 53 sets played while hitting .347 and he only got better as his college career matured. What we remember of Danny at this stage in his volleyball career was his positive spirit and constant smile on the court, especially after a winning kill or block. His humble roots from growing up in Pennsylvania are a part of his personality. He is the guy you gravitate to on your team as a leader or just as someone you want to hang out with.
As his collegiate career continued, Danny matured into just a great middle. He put up outstanding and consistent numbers, achieving over 600 kills for his career as well as 300 blocks. His teams at Rutgers were nationally ranked throughout his career, consistently in the top 15. His 84 blocks as a senior was his career best campaign.
Danny received numerous awards throughout his college career. He was a two-time NJAC Defensive Player of the Week. He made the 2020 first team All-NJAC and first team All-CVC as a sophomore. In 2021, he was named to the CVC third team All-Conference and the NJAC second team All-Conference. He made the 2022 First team All-East Region and was a 2022 second team All-American. As a senior, Danny was the NJAC Defensive Player of the Week, was named to the All-Tournament team at Springfield, Mass in February, and First-Team All-CVC.
In his last CVC year end tournament, Danny helped the Scarlet Raiders upset Southern Virginia in the semi-final and almost pulled off another huge upset of Juniata in the finale but fell just short. He received honors for his play in that tournament, but he was not ready to see his career end. Not yet. He left his senior year at the top of his game and in our opinion one of the best middles in D3 college volleyball along with fellow seniors Kevin Duffy (Juniata), Jeremy Cardenas (North Central), Zach Bulthuis (Carthage) and Gavin van Beveren (Vassar).
So, when the opportunity arose to take his game abroad at the professional level, he jumped all-in. Where was he headed? Italy? Poland? Nah… How about Örkelljunga, Sweden?
Danny seemed excited by this challenge. “This type of decision definitely comes with its positives and negatives. Some of my favorite things so far have been being able to see different parts of the world I have never been to before and meeting new people with completely different experiences and views on life.” said Quay. “The hardest part is that I am so far from my family and friends, but I still keep in touch with them through text and FaceTime as much as I can. We have some time off during Christmas and I am visiting home, which I am excited for.”
The experience has some built-in challenges. “All of my teammates and coaches speak English fluently, so it is easy to communicate at practice and off the court” Danny shared. “Sometimes they will give instructions at practice in Swedish and I have no idea what they are saying, and I just have to watch the drill for a few minutes to understand.” Quay continued… “Overall, my teammates and coaches have been very accommodating towards me and try to speak English as much as they can at practice and off the court. I understand they want to speak their native language sometimes, so I don’t mind.”
Danny told us “Most people in Sweden speak some English so when going to the store it isn’t a problem that I don’t speak the language. Google translate is a lifesaver too! The town of Örkelljunga is a very tiny village, so I stand out that I am not from Sweden”. Danny has been standing out his entire life due to his size, athleticism, and determination, so it’s something he is used to.
We are not at the point yet where professional players at this level can bring in lucrative salaries like American Football players. But in the same light, the incredible cultural experience, the resume builder, and the higher level of volleyball at the professional level makes it more than worth it.
Many of you are probably wondering whether playing in a foreign country carries a lucrative contract and endorsement opportunities as a professional. “As far as my contract, the team pay for my flight here and home as well as the cost of my apartment” shared Quay. “I also receive a monthly stipend, so I am able to live very comfortably.”
So where does Orkelljunga Volley Club fit in in the grand scheme of things in the professional volleyball landscape? According to Volleybox.net, there are over 16,000 professional clubs in the world. Is that possible? I don’t think you will find InsideHitter.com wanting to track that many teams.
There are even 37 pro clubs in Sweden. Orkelljunga is ranked 548th out of 16K, putting them in the top 3% of all clubs in the world. We are not saying they can compete with the top teams in Europe or Brazil, but the level of play is competitive and professional.
How is Danny doing, you ask? In a word, he is doing “Great”. We have tuned in to the live feed from Sweden for several of his games and it’s the same young man that we knew at Rutgers. He is blocking well, lifting up his teammates, getting his share of kills, and competing like he always has. His team is not the highest ranked in Sweden. But they hold their own, get some wins, and when they lose, their matches are usually within a few points in each set.
We have literally interacted with thousands of volleyball players over the years, all at different levels from youth to adults. What we absolutely love about Danny’s story is his willingness to push himself outside his comfort zone. The ability to identify an opportunity and actually jump in and take advantage of it is something spectacular. As winter starts to roll into Sweden, our respect for Danny continues to rise.
For volleyball players in high school or college, keep your minds open to the example Danny is setting as a role model. Keep dreaming your dream or possibly consider following others who have succeeded, like Danny, and be inspired by a potential new direction for your future goals.
The Orkelljunga Roster:
