Coach Moats’ Season of Surrender and Victory
CANDACE MOATS
“That was a moment,” she recalls, “but the journey was the memory.”
When Eva Joldersma (’26) scored the match point of the final set in the NAIA National Championship, the IWU women’s volleyball team rushed the floor as Coach Candace Moats watched through tears. “That was a moment,” she recalls, “but the journey was the memory.”
After four difficult seasons, Moats felt tired and really sought the Lord for the 2023 season. God prompted her to surrender control and she says, “That’s what I did. I started to surrender, and God brought joyful girls who were fun and had so much grace for me in the most difficult moments.” She felt God say, “Let me walk with you in this. You’re going to go beyond what you could imagine.”
The team won set after set, match after match, tournament after tournament. While IWU could plan to target weak spots on the opposing teams, opposing teams rarely could do the same. The talent spread across the court with every position. They chased goals and wins all season long and began to think an NAIA championship was in the realm of possibility.
Then it all started happening, and it culminated when the women played their way into the championship match. Moats prayed again, “Lord, please let us have this!” She experienced a lot of emotions heading into the game as she says the opportunity came after “a long time of hope.”
The championship game proved challenging. They found themselves down 2-1, then realized they were playing for themselves and not a team, so they changed their mindset-—trusting God and staying together as a team. When Joldersma scored the final match point, the women rushed the court. Elated and crying, teammates piled on top of one another. God blessed the team with an undefeated NAIA National Championship title, and they were overwhelmed.
For Moats, it was a message of God’s affirmation. Her season of surrender resulted in a celebration and national championship trophy. “Winning this championship for me is confirmation that if you give things to God and surrender, He will be faithful. I have a confidence that letting go of my control is the best way to go moving forward in the next years. He will never let me down.”