Biography
By Jim Hague
For Nathalie Breining, choosing a college to attend was a very easy decision.
She was always going to Rutgers-Newark. It was a perfect place for Breining to continue her education for two perfect reasons - volleyball and a prestigious nursing program.
“My mom (Maren) is a nurse at JFK Medical Center (in Edison, N.J.),” Breining said. “I always watched her and was interested in what she did. So I wanted to get into the Rutgers College of Nursing.”
Breining was so sure about where she wanted to go that she only applied to two colleges.
Then, there was the volleyball aspect.
“I knew I wanted to play volleyball in college, so that helped that there was a good volleyball program here,” Breining said. “Plus, I could come here and room with my best friend, Suzanne Riley.”
Riley was also headed to R-N to play volleyball.
Breining, a standout setter at Colonia High School in central New Jersey, was born in Germany and didn’t arrive in the United States until she was eight years old. Unable to speak English, Breining first struggled with her new surroundings.
“It was pretty weird when we got here, because I went straight to school and was put in first grade,” Breining recalled. “I did attend ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, but no one else spoke German, so it really didn’t help. I learned from hearing the language and fooling around with it.”
Breining said that watching television was a major asset.
“Dora (the Explorer) taught me English,” said Breining, who amazingly has no hint of a German accent these days.
Breining (whose unique first name comes from a French song her mother loved) came to R-N and instantly became a major part of the women’s volleyball program, playing the most important role on the floor, namely setter.
“There is a lot of pressure, because we don’t have a second setter on the team,” Breining said. “So I have to be the one who’s out there, whether I’m playing well or not. I have to get it together and pick it up. I touch the ball every play, so I’m bound to make mistakes.”
It’s also a lot to ask of a freshman just entering competitive college volleyball, but Rutgers-Newark head women’s volleyball coach Jason Madsen knew that Breining could handle it.
“She played on a competitive club team called the Warren Sixpak,” Madsen said. “I’d see her there and working hard, so I knew she could handle it. When she decided to join our program, I knew she would be a big asset. She’s an offensive-minded setter and I knew that’s what we wanted.”
Madsen said that he just enjoys watching Breining perform.
“She’s very athletic and hustles all the time on the court,” Madsen said. “Her teammates believe in her and believe that she’s going to get everyone involved in the scoring.”
Breining has also been a godsend to the Scarlet Raiders, considering she has helped the team to a stellar 9-5 record thus far. She has collected an astounding 436 of the team’s total 470 assists. She has also 161 service points, 107 digs and 13 blocks, showing her immense versatility.
“After every practice and every match, she’s always asking what she could do better,” Madsen said. “She’s very hard on herself. She does everything we ask of her and she still gets down on herself. She has to be able to work around that. But she’s a very good player and we’re glad to have her.”
Madsen said that Breining is also extremely intelligent, both on and off the court, which helps her volleyball acumen as well.
“She’s just fun to watch,” Madsen said.
Breining is still getting acclimated to being a college student.
“It’s been extremely tough, especially for me,” Breining said. “I’m taking an anatomy class right now and that’s been really hard. It’s the hardest class I have ever taken. So it’s been rough handling volleyball and studying, but it keeps me on track a little, I guess. I go to class, I study and I have a game. So I guess it helps and hurts at the same time.”
Breining said that she has enjoyed being the center of attention on the volleyball court.
“I’m the one who brings everyone together and I like that,” Breining said. “I’m the base of the team. The rest of the team has welcomed me. We don’t have a lot of upperclassmen. We have a team basically made up of sophomores and freshmen, so that has made me feel really welcomed and comfortable.”
Breining said that playing club volleyball at a highly competitive level over the summer months prepared her for the college game.
“I think it helped me a lot, because it filled the gap and made me play volleyball all year round,” Breining said. “If I’m constantly playing, then I’m constantly improving. The more you play, the better it is.”
However, being a setter can be difficult.
“It is a little nerve wracking,” Breining said. “But I love it. I like knowing that the team needs me. I just want to be able to help them as much as I can.”
Breining will help the Scarlet Raiders - along with her talented buddy and roommate - hopefully for the next three years to come, giving Madsen and his program a very solid base for the future and making the Scarlet Raiders’ future appear very bright indeed.
