Adlene Jideofor never set out to become a college volleyball player. It just happened.
A chance encounter at a Miami bus stop led her to the sport, but what started as a casual introduction became the key to her future. As the eldest of five siblings in a family that immigrated from Nigeria when she was 3, Jideofor grew up knowing that paying for college wasn't an option.
"My mom always told me she's not paying for college, so we had to find a way to pay for college," Jideofor said.
That way turned out to be volleyball.
After joining her high school team as a sophomore, she committed herself to the sport, later competing in wrestling, flag football, and track and field. But volleyball became her vehicle for something bigger — a college education, a support system and, eventually, a passion for helping others through psychology.
Her journey wasn't without obstacles. Navigating the recruiting process during the COVID-19 pandemic made transferring from junior college toNorfolk State volleyballa challenge. But through it all, she discovered her love for sports psychology, a field that allowed her to turn her own struggles into an opportunity to help others.
"I realized how many athletes struggle, not just physically, but mentally," she said. "I wanted to make sure no one felt as lost as I did."
How Norfolk State and HBCU culture shaped her leadership
Jideofor hadn't always envisioned attending a historically Black college or university. In fact, she didn't know much about HBCUs at all.
"The only HBCU I really knew at that time was (Florida A&M)," she said.
But after speaking with friends and former teammates who raved about their experiences, she reconsidered.
"I thought, 'No, I think this is what I want,'" she said.
Her decision was solidified when she met Norfolk State volleyball head coach Kathy Bullock.
"She reminds me a lot of my mom. Everything about her just felt like home," Jideofor said. "Her mindset aligned with mine. She's hard on us, but everything is always for a good reason."
That feeling of home extended beyond the Norfolk State volleyball program.
"It's just a different type of love and energy when you're surrounded by people who understand your experiences without you having to explain them," she said.
Jideofor has found success both academically and athletically at Norfolk State, finishingthird in program history for most career block assists (146) in just three seasons and landing a spot on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll this year.
She also found a tight-knit community at Norfolk State, where she saw firsthand the impact of student-athlete leadership.
"We host volleyball clinics. We do community outreach, and the support we get is incredible," Jideofor said. "Some of the kids we work with come to our games. It just means a lot because where I came from, we didn't really have that kind of community."
This sense of identity and belonging prepared her for one of the most transformative experiences of her career: attending theBlack Student-Athlete Summit.
"Going to the Black Student-Athlete Summit was — to be honest — an eye-opener," she said. "It kind of showed me that everybody has different problems, different issues that we have to tackle as a community in the athletic world."
While her experience at Norfolk State volleyball gave her a strong foundation, the summit expanded her perspective.
"At an HBCU, we don't deal with being racially profiled the same way," she said. "But hearing those stories made me realize that there's so much work still to be done."
Beyond the discussions, the summit provided a unique networking opportunity.
"I've been connected with a lot of higher-ups that I never thought in my life I would ever be connected to," she said. "It was at a point where I realized I'm about to finish playing volleyball, and I need to build my resume. Going there, it was that driving force to continue pushing forward."
From volleyball to business
Beyond volleyball and psychology, Jideofor channels her passion into entrepreneurship. She runs The Hair Hotline, a hair-styling service she built from scratch, inspired by her mother's work as a hairstylist after their family first immigrated. She hopes to give back to her community through her business in the future.
"I've been doing hair my whole life. I don't think I've ever had a real job," she joked.
Balancing her business, school and athletics wasn't easy, but her time at Norfolk State helped her refine those skills.
"It's about time management and discipline," she said. "My coach and my teammates support me, and I made sure my clients understand my schedule as an athlete."
As she nears graduation in May and reflects on her journey, Jideofor said she hopes her impact on the younger generation is simple but represents her journey.
"I tell them to never stop and to never give up," she said. "There's so much in this world for you to go and get. Don't let anyone stop you. Don't let any of your thoughts stop you. Always keep a positive mindset. Always see the good in things."
She credits this outlook with carrying her through the toughest moments in her career.
"I want people to look at my journey and see that it's possible," she said. "You can come from humble beginnings and still make something of yourself. Norfolk State gave me the foundation, and now it's up to me to build on it."