Kindly join us in celebration

Danielle and Ian’s story began on the grass in 2022 at one of Ian’s Big Z Grass Volleyball tournaments. Danielle was playing on a nearby court when Ian casually walked by mid-match, looked over, and asked the now-iconic question: “Who the hell are you?” After that tournament, Ian continued asking Danielle to play doubles tournaments with him, but she was too nervous at the time - constantly coming up with excuses. Ian was really good, and Danielle wasn’t sure she could keep up while just getting back into the sport. Still, they stayed in touch, messaging about volleyball and becoming familiar faces in the volleyball scene. A few months later, Danielle returned to Ian’s Big Z, where they finally played against each other in a double's tournament. True to form, Ian showed up playing in slides, clearly expecting to cruise through the match - which only made Danielle and her partner extra competitive. Much to Ian’s dismay (and something he still hates to admit), his team ended up having to work a lot harder than expected. Later that season, they played together in a Bix Quads tournament, and while they didn’t see each other constantly after that, they stayed loosely connected. UNTIL: Everything changed at Waupaca 2023 when they saw each other again. After a long day of volleyball (and being just a little under the influence), Danielle jokingly told Ian that if he won his quarterfinal match on center court, he could take her on a date. With Danielle watching from the sidelines, Ian's team held a 19-11 lead before things tightened up after a timeout, turning the match into a close, back-and-forth finish that ultimately ended in a narrow 30-28 win. True to her word, Danielle honored the deal - and a "joke" from the sidelines turned into the start of something neither of them saw coming. What started as volleyball quickly turned into something much more. They realized they had far more in common than just the sport, and about a month later, they officially started dating. The next two years were spent doing long distance, cheering each other on from different states, traveling whenever possible, and building something strong despite the miles. In July 2025, Ian proposed in Safe Haven, Michigan, and a month later, Danielle made the big move from Iowa. Together, they bought their first home in Downers Grove, Illinois. And the rest is just the beginning.