Advance VB star to venture far from home for next challenge

Advance High School senior Lexi Hoffman competes in the MSHSAA Class 1 semifinal match against Galena at the Show Me Center last fall.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

Following the final volleyball match of her incredibly storied career, Advance High School senior Lexi Hoffman spoke of the influence that her mother, Hornet coach Erin Hoffman, had on her throughout her athletic career and life.

“It’s probably the best thing that I have experienced,” Lexi said of playing for her mother.

That influence continued even after her playing days at Advance had ended with her third MSHSAA Class 1 state championship of her career. The younger Hoffman has elected to travel far from home to compete at the collegiate level, signing with Notre Dame College in the Cleveland suburb of South Euclid, Ohio, just as her mother did 30 years earlier when she left the Des Moines, Iowa suburb of Grimes, Iowa to play volleyball at Southeast Missouri State.

“My mom went far away to college,” Lexi said, “so I wanted to do that, too.”

Notre Dame College is a 2,100-student university that competes at the NCAA Division II level, and Lexi said that she felt a connection with young Falcon coach Erica Kostelac.

“The first time that I spoke with (Coach Kostelac),” Lexi said, “I instantly fell in love (with the program). She coaches like my mom. She is a really spirited person, and that is what sold me.”

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Kostelac has been on the job just one season and guided the program to 10 wins. If anything, Hoffman will be able to bring a winning aura with her to Notre Dame.

The Falcons have endured four losing seasons in a row heading into the 2024 season.

Over the past four seasons, the Hoffman women have led the Hornets to 117 victories and three state titles.

Lexi had spent time as a setter during her younger years, but Erin needed the 6-foot-1 athlete up front in the middle, and Lexi “just ran with it,” according to Erin.

“All of a sudden,” Erin said, “we needed a hitter, and she had never hit before.”

Lexi expects to get a long look as a setter for the Falcons, but just as every college player learns, she is flexible to do whatever Kostelac asks of her.

“(Coach Kostelac) said it was undecided,” Lexi explained of her role, “but my main role will be as a setter.”

Notre Dame had two setters on its 2023 roster, and both will be seniors next fall.

After growing up in rural Missouri, Lexi liked the size of Notre Dame. Despite being just outside of Cleveland, the institution has just over 2,000 students.

“The school was small,” Lexi said, “and I liked that.”

Lexi will deviate from her mother’s path and study something other than teaching.

“I am going to study exercise science,” Lexi said, “and then after my four years (at Notre Dame), I am going to go and get my degree in occupational therapy.

“I love teaching people things (like her mother), but I couldn’t be a teacher. I just want to be able to help people in a different way.”

Hoffman wrapped up her career last season with 542 kills, 941 attacks, 423 assists, and 249 digs, to go with her three state championships won throughout her career.