Meredith Marsh, a standout volleyball player at Whatcom Community College (Whatcom), has committed to continuing her career at the four-year level with Rocky Mountain College (RMC) in Billings, Montana.
“My commitment to Rocky Mountain is so special to me. I am beyond excited to be a Bear and compete in the Frontier Conference next year,” Marsh said.
Meredith Marsh Chooses Rocky Mountain College
Last season, Marsh, an alumna of Arlington High School in Snohomish County, made headlines after becoming the all-time assists leader for the Whatcom program. She totaled 1,073 assists, breaking the previous record of 1,037. Marsh also helped lead Orca Volleyball to the postseason and the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) Regional Round.
In December, Marsh chose RMC—a private Montana college that competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)—based on a number of key factors.
“I chose Rocky [Mountain College] because of the connections I made with Coach [Aubrey] Beaumont and the current players on the team,” said Marsh, who was also impressed with the academic opportunities at the college.
“The campus and atmosphere checked all of my boxes. Billings is such a beautiful place. Academically, I found a program that I am excited about. The energy and sense of urgency all the players had during practice was a big factor in my commitment as well. I want to be somewhere that prioritizes passion for the game,” Marsh said.
Before committing to RMC, Marsh considered two other schools and had recruiting trips planned—but canceled them after being impressed during her visit to Billings.
“I had visits planned for two other schools at the end of the week, but I committed to Rocky while I was still in Billings. I canceled the other visits I had lined up because I found exactly what I was looking for at RMC,” she said.
For many collegiate student-athletes, the recruiting process can be stressful and daunting, but Marsh said she enjoyed the experience.
“For me, the recruiting process was really fun. I enjoyed sending emails and having phone calls with coaches. It’s not something I enjoyed two years ago when I was graduating high school, but I have become more confident and outgoing since then,” she said. “I think the difference in my recruiting experiences goes to show how formative and important the first few years after high school are. Even though I had fun going through it this time, I’m still excited to be done with recruiting. It’s definitely a weight off my shoulders knowing where I’ll be next year.”
Marsh and her new teammates at RMC will compete in the NAIA’s Frontier Conference, which includes an all-Montana division made up of the University of Providence (Great Falls), Montana Tech University (Butte), the University of Montana Western (Dillon), Montana State University-Northern (Havre), and Carroll College (Helena).
Meredith Marsh Reflects on Her Time at Whatcom Community College
Marsh credits Whatcom Community College with having a significant impact on her life and development as a student-athlete.
“My experience at WCC was very character-building. In the last two years, I have grown so much overall as an athlete and person,” Marsh said. “I wasn’t ready to go out of state right after I graduated high school, but I knew that I wanted to leave Washington for college at some point. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to spend two years in Bellingham—close to my family and home.”
“This [attending Whatcom] allowed me to adjust to the college lifestyle at a pace that worked well for me,” she continued. “My experience at Whatcom also helped me further myself academically. Whatcom has a program where you can earn a bachelor’s degree in business management in two years, which was perfect since I was coming in with my associate degree.”
Looking Ahead With Meredith Marsh
Marsh offered some advice to aspiring student-athletes who were considering playing at the community college level first.
“I would tell them that if they care about staying close to home or want to save money, community college is a great route. I would suggest it to anyone who had the same situation I did coming out of high school,” she said. “WCC can be a great stepping stone for people trying to play at a four-year school. Playing in the NWAC is so fun and so competitive.”
As Marsh looks ahead to her next chapter in Billings, she carries with her the experience, growth, and confidence gained during her time at Whatcom. With her passion for the game and dedication to both academics and athletics, she’s poised to make an immediate impact at Rocky Mountain College.
Her journey from Whatcom Community College standout to NAIA recruit is a testament to the value of perseverance, self-belief, and taking the path that best suits personal growth.
