“Sometimes I’m not necessarily presented with the ideal situation,” she said. “I feel like having a positive outlook on life has helped me out a lot.”

Benson, a native of Spring Green, Wis., is now a junior role player on the UW volleyball team. However, things didn’t start that way for her two years ago. Just last fall, Benson found herself playing for the Northern Iowa Panthers. After redshirting for her true freshman year in fall 2006, she played just one game in 2007 as a backup. In fall 2008 she appeared in 20 matches, starting nine. Aiding Northern Iowa in a run to the NCAA tournament, she put up almost 10 assists per set.

However, after the season, she made a decision to transfer away from her original school.

“My ultimate decision came down to the fact that I couldn’t accept the role that I was given (at Northern Iowa),” Benson said. “It came down to whether I still wanted to play volleyball.”

Benson said she couldn’t make her transfer decision while at home for winter break, so she had to make the decision whether or not she wanted to transfer before she left Northern Iowa for home in Wisconsin.

“I don’t want people to think that I made my decision just because of the role that I was given,” she said. “I understand that in sports, roles are changed and given. But, ultimately, I was unhappy there and needed to make a change.”

The decision was hard for Benson without the assurance there would even be a team out there that needed her. However, opportunity was knocking at her door when she made the decision to leave Northern Iowa.

“Being close to my family (in Wisconsin) is extremely important,” Benson said. “I was hoping that I would come home and be looking and talking to schools that would be somewhat close by. And then I got word that Wisconsin was looking for another setter.”

“It just so happened at the end of last fall that she was looking to come back closer to home and we had an open position for a setter,” UW head volleyball coach Pete Waite said. “It really just worked out perfectly.”

Benson’s blind leap of faith landed her back at home, playing for the Wisconsin Badgers in time for the spring exhibition season.

“It just seemed like it was meant to be,” Waite said. “We had an opening, and she was just so happy to come back closer to family and here.”

Fitting in with her new teammates wasn’t particularly difficult for Benson either, especially because one particular Badger was actually an old teammate. Junior Brittney Dolgner, a standout Badger hitter, had played on the same club volleyball team as Benson as a child and teenager.

“It helped a ton that (Dolgner) was here,” Benson said. “She’s been one of my best friends since like seventh grade. I knew some of the other girls through Brittney and club; it helped a ton.”

Benson’s flexibility has also aided a Badger team suffering from some injuries during their exhibition season.

“We needed a backup setter and she fits that role,” junior outside hitter Caity DuPont said. “But we need someone who can also hit because we’re down on people this spring. She came in, with (Dolgner) and I having some injuries — she can come in and play any position: Left side, she can play right side, she can play defense.”

“[Benson is] doing a lot of things as far as being versatile and playing out of her position,” Waite added. “We’ve had some injuries where we’re resting some people, and she’s had to step in and play some outside hitter which she doesn’t have much experience in and is getting better in.”

Benson’s professionalism and willingness to adapt in her new environment brings something valuable to a very good Wisconsin volleyball squad. Waite noted the Badgers are returning only four starters from the fall season and could use the leadership.

“I think she’s a hard-working and disciplined person and player,” Waite said. “I think what she brings also is a balanced outlook on life, and she has a lot of fun with her teammates and brings that off the court, too.”

Badger players seem to agree with their coach’s assessment.

“Jessa brings a new aspect to our team,” DuPont said. “She’s got a great personality, and she’s very vocal. She’s a tough player and tough competitor, but she’s also got a fun side, so it’s not completely serious all the time.”

Benson looks to aid her new teammates and achieve her dream of playing in the volleyball Final Four in the NCAA tournament next season, her final year of eligibility.

“I want to be a player that helps the team as a whole, no matter what my role is on the floor,” Benson said. “I want to help the team achieve our goals, so whatever I need to do to succeed, I’ll do it.”

As she is firmly planted at Wisconsin, it seems opportunity has finally given Benson the chance to achieve those goals.