For someone who’s endured so much, Vanderbilt’s Ally Bollig radiates with a distinct joy. As she spoke to the Hustler, her tone never wavered; her every word brimmed with overflowing amounts of confidence. From the outside, no one would ever be able to tell that the midfielder has dealt with struggles that would end the career of most young soccer players.  

Bollig made her official collegiate debut as a senior against Austin Peay on Aug. 14. She logged 47 minutes in a 7-0 victory for the Commodores, a seemingly minuscule involvement to the naked eye that may have scanned over a box score. Yet, it was substantial — a moment that meant everything to an athlete that lost almost everything.

Bollig was recruited to Vanderbilt out of South Aiken High School in Aiken, South Carolina, where she was a four-time Olympic Development Program regional team selection and a state champion. She committed early in her high school career to be a Commodore, chasing a dream of playing at a prestigious university in one of college soccer’s premier conferences. Her towering frame and excellent touch were clear signs that she could excel at the next level.  

However, tragedy struck during a routine practice in her junior year of high school. Initially, doctors believed Bollig sprained her LCL; however, after further testing, it was revealed she tore her ACL. It was an experience her family was familiar with — the same one that led to her sister’s early retirement from sports amid complications. It was a crushing blow to a career that hadn’t yet had the chance to blossom. Between the pandemic and complications with her injury, she was sidelined for most of her junior year and the entirety of her senior year, leaving massive question marks hanging over the possibility of college play.

“The first time I tore my ACL, [during] the first conversation I had with [head coach Darren Ambrose], he told me to ‘worry about my health’ and to ‘just get better first,’” Bollig said. “I think it says a lot about a person to be willing to take on someone that had an injury.” 

When she began rehabilitation during her senior year of high school, her troubles lingered. By the time she arrived on West End, Bollig couldn’t keep up with the pace of conditioning and practice — her knee ached with pain each day. Once again, Bollig faced the possibility of her soccer career ending. 

This would be the story of her first three years at Vanderbilt. Between high school and college, Bollig underwent four different operations on the same leg. 

She watched from the sidelines for three years with the Commodores, bearing witness to the highs and lows of Vanderbilt Soccer. From last year’s team that upset No. 1 Florida State to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, to the 2023 team that failed to even qualify for the conference tournament, Bollig was there. Regardless, she did her best from the sidelines. 

“Even though I wasn’t physically contributing to the process, I think that being on the bench [means] there’s still a role to play,” Bollig said. “It goes a long way when you’re on the bench and [can] lift up the people on the field. All I could do for my teammates was cheer them on and I did that to the best of my ability.” 

Ally’s parents, Brian and Adriene, were around for every hurdle. While they held onto a belief in their daughter and gave her endless support, they couldn’t help but also be in awe of her tenacity. 

“She made the right choice to stay and not give up,” Bollig’s mother said to the Hustler. “I truly believe that God gives His best warriors the huge test. So, trust me when I tell you, Ally] overcame her mind, overcame her heart and injuries. She worked through it because she wanted to at least step on the field one time. That was her goal.” 

Nothing would stop Bollig from achieving that goal. After her first collegiate appearance against Austin Peay, she played off the bench in the next three games for the Commodores. Then, on senior night against Yale, Bollig got the nod for her first career start in front of everyone who had helped get her to that point. Bollig played brilliantly, logging 81 minutes and a shot on goal with a plethora of great tackles on the defensive end. 

“I couldn’t stop smiling,” Bollig’s father said emotionally. “I knew that the one thing she always questioned was whether she was good enough after four years off. So, to see her in that position, my heart was filled. Just looking at her, if she didn’t play another minute, I would [still] have been happy.” 

Bollig’s great performance against Yale was upstaged by what came next. In a top-25 showdown between then-No. 16 Georgetown and Vanderbilt, Bollig started once again. With two and a half minutes left in the first half, Bollig found a corner kick skidding through the box, tapping it out to the left before sending it straight into the back of the net for her first career goal. That would be the only goal of the contest as Vanderbilt secured a 1-0 ranked victory. 

“It felt so unreal and, in the moment, I was like, ‘Did that just happen?’ But it was definitely a great feeling,” Bollig said. “I felt like that was the most I’ve ever done for the team in that moment since being here and that was really gratifying. My teammates were so happy for me. I watched the game back, and the bench went crazy, and some of my teammates after the game were crying because they were so happy for me.” 

The goal and her overall performance earned Bollig SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Since then, Bollig has started in every single game for the Commodores, earning a spot as a crucial player in the midfield. After four long years, Bollig is now a key component on one of the nation’s top 25 teams. 

As Vanderbilt continues to thrive on the pitch, one question remains: how much better can Bollig get? The Commodores are 10-3-1, undefeated at home and currently riding a three-game conference winning streak. From tactics to chemistry, this is one of Vanderbilt’s best teams in years. For both Bollig and her family, this was all worth it.  

“I think she had to do it and she had to do it at Vanderbilt,” Bollig’s mother said. “They are not lying when they tell you, [Vanderbilt Soccer] is like a family. They support their players, they cheer their players on and that’s exactly what they did for Ally.” 

Bollig’s father noted that her development, not just as a player, but as a person, made his daughter’s journey worthwhile. 

“I wouldn’t change a thing. Soccer for me is more than just a game. She’s developed leadership skills. She’s made friends for life,” he said. “To me, the life lessons are what she’ll carry with her beyond sport.” 

Bollig’s rise to the pinnacle of college soccer is one of a kind. Still, it goes to show what a person can do with the right mindset and support around them. Even though she knows she’s an inspiration, Bollig wants others to do better. 

“I think my story just shows that it’s not a linear process. You’re going to have ups and downs. Some people go through it earlier on in their career, some people later on in their career, but it’s how you manage it and how you handle it and your response to it,” Bollig said. “I’ve had young girls back home be like, ‘I want to be like Ally when I grow up,’ but no, you don’t want to be like me. You want to be better than me. That’s what I tell people. You want to be better than I want to be.” 

With conference play beginning to wrap up, Vanderbilt will face Mississippi State, Tennessee and South Carolina to close out the season. From there, the quest for both an SEC title and a national title will begin. More than anything, the Commodores have high goals and zero doubts about if they’ll achieve them, especially with players like Bollig leading the charge.