Valerie (Olson) Verley (2025) - Concordia-St. Paul Athletic Hall of Fame

Concordia-St. Paul Athletic Hall of Fame

Valerie (Olson) Verley

Class

2006
Induction

2025
Sport(s)

Volleyball

A four-year starting outside hitter for the Golden Bears, Valerie (Olson) Verley was a key force in Concordia’s early success at the NCAA Division II level and helped lay the foundation for the program’s rise to national prominence.

Verley was quick to make an impact as a freshman, tallying 251 kills (2.59 per set) and 229 digs in her first season at Concordia. In her sophomore season, Verley logged 317 kills (2.38 per set) and 155 digs while helping the Golden Bears win the NSIC and advance all the way to the NCAA national championship match, both program firsts.

Verley and the Golden Bears sustained their success in the following years as Concordia once again won the NSIC and reached the NCAA Tournament in both 2004 and 2005. As a junior, Verley finished with 324 kills (3.34 per set) and 87 digs. In her final season, she put together a career year with 439 kills (3.57 per set) and 130 digs while leading Concordia to another region championship and Elite Eight appearance.

During her tenure, the Golden Bears produced four-straight 20-plus win seasons, a 118-21 overall record, 56-6 NSIC record with three conference championships and a pair of perfect league records, two region championships and a national runner-up finish.

After graduating from Concordia in 2006, Verley went on to obtain her master's degree in recreation management from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2007. Her first full-time job brought her back to CSP where she worked as the assistant athletic director for compliance. She later transitioned to a role with the City of Eden Prairie Parks & Recreation Department where she held various positions for more than 14 years. Recently, she co-founded a property management business, Verlstad LLC, where she works as a project manager.

Verley met her husband, Kyle, a former running back on the Concordia football team, while they were both student-athletes at CSP. The pair resides in Shakopee, Minnesota with their two sons, Weston and Ellis.

Career Awards