Photo by Shawn Stevens
By: Rico Albarracin / Asst. Sports Director
It is a difficult time for the women’s volleyball team. After suffering a second-round loss to eventual Sun Belt champions Western Kentucky for consecutive seasons, the Panthers will add another year to a title drought that now extends to 10. They will say goodbye to another set of seniors and will go into the off-season with a new question, which in reality is a question that has been asked for years. “How do we improve enough to win a championship?”
Before the team can even ask the question, they must assess what the team has as far as players go and what their mentality is. Let’s just say the first is easier to address than the latter.
Some Bad Things, Some Good
Starting with the players, losing senior middle blockers Andrea Lakovic and Sabrina Gonzalez is a big blow to a defense that played well this season. Both players combined for 191 total blocks this past season, anchoring the front line for the Panthers that immediately goes from being full of experience to players with very limited playing time.
Freshman Silvia Carli played 57 sets, roughly half of the sets of her predecessors, which gives the Panthers a semblance of continuity at the position. However, there is no secure number two.
Freshman Priscilla Huggins will return to the team with no experience at the college level, having suffered an injury to her foot and losing a spot in the rotation.
The same issue of lack of players guarding the net can also be addressed, along with back line protection. Libero Chanel Araujo will be in her senior year, flanked by freshman Carolyn Fouts, who received plenty of playing time in her first season.
After those two, there is red-shirt junior Rachel Fernandez, who may or may not exercise her last season of eligibility due to graduation. Coach Danijela Tomic will undoubtedly reload at both positions and build a rotation to see what sticks, but that brings the issue of having players learn on the job, which will bring growing pains.
The bright spots for the Panthers are on the offensive side of the game. Five players will be returning to the outside hitter position, including All-Sun Belt player Jovana Bjelica for her senior year. Although it seemed that Bjelica was the only option on offense, Una Trkulja showed signs of being the “Robin” to Bjelica’s “Batman” before suffering a knee injury midway through the season.
With an expected recovery in time for next season and junior Marija Prsa adding experience to a loaded position, Bjelica will not be alone to carry the offense. Red-shirt freshman Jessica Egan seems to have the setter position locked up going into next year, even if red-shirt junior Renele Forde decides to return. Forde faces the same predicament as Fernandez as far as eligibility.
Change of Focus
The talent may be there but the mentality is not. The phrase that the team lived by towards the end of the season was, “We’re getting ready for the tournament,” as if everything would change once that illusion-filled date came. There were glimpses of brilliance this season, but the moments of despair and frustration clouded whatever bright spots there were. I think the goal should not only be to improve, but also to win.
When the season starts, the bulls-eyes will be on the backs of SBC champions WKU and rival Middle Tennessee. FIU must change their motto. No more, “We’re focusing on the tournament.” It is not a bad goal to have, but you can’t really put a face to that phrase. What the goal needs to be is, “Beat WKU and Middle Tennessee.” It is a tangible idea that the Panthers can focus on and can lead to a change in power in the conference.
This can lead to that elusive title that has not been in FIU’s grasp for a decade. Let’s hope they realize it, for their sake.
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