Pasadena Woman Passionate About Volleyball Competes At Olympics

PASADENA, MD — Dorinda “Dee” Schultz of Pasadena was part of a volleyball team called KRAY-Z that competed in the 2019 National Senior Olympic games in Albuquerque, N.M. Her team placed 29th out of 41 teams, winning four sets and losing eight sets.

Schultz played volleyball as a student at Catonsville Community College, finishing second in the nation in 1978, reported the Pasadena Voice. Schultz still loves to play volleyball or wallyball with friends locally, but felt inspired to push herself after trying out for and making a women's team at Volleyball House in Elkridge. She discovered she wasn't the only one with a loftier goal.

“We all had the same goal in mind and that was to go to the Olympics,” she told the Voice. “I've been wanting to do it since college, but I could never find the team.”

Team KRAY-Z pushed through the qualification process and nabbed a spot to compete against 41 other teams in the women's 55-plus division. She was surprised at the level of competition they faced.

“You can tell that all those teams, this was not their first time at the Olympics,” she said. “Very, very competitive. I think this being our first time made it difficult for us to be successful.”

The experience at the 2019 National Senior Olympics was so exhilarating that Schultz said she may compete again in volleyball or another sport.