ST. LOUIS, Mo. — As the Washington University in St. Louis volleyball team closes in on the end of its regular season and prepares for the UAA Tournament, its strength has come not only from depth on the court, but also from support behind the scenes.
Senior Megan Manaj has been part of the program for four years, but for the past two seasons, she has filled a different role. After a medical issue cut short her playing career, she transitioned into a supporting position, remaining an important presence for the Bears.
Her path to WashU, however, began long before she ever stepped onto the Danforth Campus.
Born and raised in St. Louis, in the South City and St. Louis Hills area, Manaj moved to Lindbergh around the time she entered middle school. She later graduated from Lindbergh High School, where she still holds the single-season and all-time kills records.
Her volleyball journey started even earlier with Rockwood Thunder, a club program that serves players from U9 through U18.
"I always liked playing volleyball since I was in second grade," Manaj said. "Then I started playing club when I was in the fifth grade."
Competing on Rockwood Thunder's top team throughout her club career, Manaj began the recruiting process at just 13 years old.
"I started emailing coaches when I was 13, 14 years old," Manaj said, referring to the recruiting rules that were in place at the time. "So I was definitely always interested in playing in college."
One of the coaches she contacted was Vanessa Walby, WashU's head coach. Walby and Manaj's club coaches encouraged her to attend the Bears' volleyball camps, which helped set the stage for what would become a strong fit.
"I always knew WashU," Manaj said. "Since it was local, I was like, 'Why not?' So that is when I first met Coach Walby and Coach Selle. I definitely loved the program and everything it stood for from that moment on."
Walby quickly saw why Manaj stood out.
"Megan was very grounded and down to earth," Walby said. "She was passionate about playing at a school that would challenge her mentally on the court as well as in the classroom. She was competitive and was extremely respectful throughout the recruiting process."
Walby also pointed to the challenge of keeping top local talent in St. Louis.
"Here in St. Louis, there is a lot of awesome talent, but it's always tough to get kids to stay here," she said. "We have to find the student-athlete who wants to play at a high level, but isn't willing to sacrifice academics. You could tell Megan was team-driven and wanted to be at a place with a strong competitive culture."
Like many high school seniors looking at college, Manaj wanted something different from what she had known growing up.
"I knew a lot of my friends were going to Mizzou or staying kind of local, but I always thought I was going to go kind of far for college," she said.
In the end, though, WashU proved to be the right fit. Manaj embraced the academics, the team culture and the campus environment.
"I had looked at some schools in the NESCAC," Manaj joked. "And while they do have some nice campuses, they were smaller than my high school. I was worried they were going to feel way too small and less like college and more like another high school."
Once she arrived on the Danforth Campus, Manaj got to work immediately, both in the classroom and with the team.
A double major in political science and finance, she has long had an interest in politics.
"I was always interested in politics since high school, maybe even earlier than that," she said. "It kind of stemmed from always watching the news when I was a kid. I enjoyed hearing about politics and started getting involved in topics surrounding politics."
"My parents are immigrants to the St. Louis area, so knowing their story, background and how they viewed politics shaped my perspective on things."
Although she once considered law school, Manaj has recently leaned more toward finance. She has seen the range of career paths the field can offer and has begun focusing more on that direction.
For now, though, volleyball remains at the center of her college experience.
"I think it has been a lot of fun," she said. "I think the team's vibe has definitely shifted over the past four years. I think we, my senior class, found a unique personality for the team that was not there before."
"Maybe Coach Walby would agree with this, but we have a lot of bubbly, funny, goofy energy-type personalities. I think when we first came in, it was a lot for the coaches to handle. But I think they helped mold us into the culture while allowing us to remain ourselves and create a new atmosphere for the team."
That culture has translated into success.
The Bears went 24-10 during Manaj's first season and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They improved to 29-7 her sophomore year and again advanced to the second round.
But after that season, Manaj faced a challenge unlike any she had encountered before: her playing days were over.
What began as back spasms during her second year eventually led to a deeper medical evaluation. She was diagnosed with herniated discs, and despite working through physical therapy and rehabilitation with WashU athletic trainer Jackee Hill, the pain and limited mobility became too much to continue.
Even so, Manaj found a way to stay involved.
While going through rehab, she began helping from the sideline, gradually stepping into more of a student-coach role.
"A lot of people were very supportive, but I also already kind of had started taking up that student coaching role," she said. "Being injured gives you a different perspective into volleyball, and you really get to see how people are playing and the mechanics of everything."
"Our team always talks about knowing your role on the team. Whether you are a starter, a bench player or anywhere in between, I think there is value, and you can always be adding value. That is something we always preach."
Walby said Manaj's impact has been felt in ways that do not always show up in a box score.
"Megan has been an extremely selfless teammate in her time here," Walby said. "She does the little things on and off the court that make a big difference to our success. She is very intuitive with the younger players and helps them navigate our culture, program and school. She has a high volleyball IQ and is able to help players during matches and practice."
Last season, her first in a primarily sideline role, the Bears reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.
"She really works well behind the scenes to keep us moving in the right direction," Walby added.
Now a senior, Manaj has watched WashU climb as high as No. 1 in the national rankings and earn four wins over top-five opponents. The Bears have also secured the No. 2 seed in the upcoming UAA Tournament, where they will face Brandeis in the first round.
As her time with the program winds down, Manaj has also begun preparing for life after graduation.
"I was in New York for an internship over the summer at Stiefel Institutional in equity sales and trading," she said. "So that was a lot of fun and I learned a lot. So now I am just in another type of recruiting process with job interviews."
After spending college in St. Louis, she is considering a move elsewhere.
"I really enjoyed being on the East Coast and I think I am ready for a larger step into a bigger city," Manaj said. "I think there is just a lot more opportunity on the East Coast and in those big-city hubs for careers in finance. So hopefully I can move out there, but I'm not completely opposed to St. Louis either."
And what about coaching?
"Never say never," she said with a laugh. "I would certainly like to maybe coach a kids' league or beginner volleyball in a few years, but I do not think anything too serious."
For the newcomers who will arrive at WashU next fall, Manaj's advice is simple: embrace the process.
"While there are so many new people that they are not accustomed to, they should enjoy the process and get to know everyone around you," she said. "That is the journey."
Walby offered her own advice in return.
"I would tell her to keep aiming high and take the big swings on things you want," she said. "You have all the tools to tackle any big challenge and to be successful in all you do. Trust that about yourself and go for it. It might take some time, but you will get there."
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Elevating scholar-champions requires resources beyond the institutional budget. Through the W Club, generous alumni, parents, and friends provide unrestricted support that is essential to the extraordinary WashU student-athlete experience—and the ongoing growth and development of the department. Annual support for Athletics allows the Bears to consistently rise to national levels of competition and ensures that our student-athletes enjoy exceptional opportunities as they train, compete, and lead. To make a gift to the Annual Fund for Athletics, please visit our secure online giving form or contact the Athletics Advancement Office at athletics@wustl.edu.
