Panthers hope to take advantage of new size

Jonathan Jacobskind/ Staff Writer

The metal poles are raised and the nets are tied down, it’s time for volleyball season.

The 2012 squad is set to play under the guidance of newly-appointed Head Coach Trevor Theroulde.  FIU returns eight-letter winners, including three starters from the 2011 campaign.

FIU posted a 20-10 overall record in 2011, capped by an early exit in the Sun Belt Conference semifinals to the hands of conference rival — Western Kentucky University.

The Panthers welcome seven new members to the program and after months of offseason practices, Theroulde expects the incoming players to vie for plenty of playing time, including the freshman.

“Everyone has a chance to play. The preseason is for players to come in, demonstrate their skill and earn their position,” Theroulde said. “I told the freshman, ‘When you enter a university, your job is not to wait until a senior graduates to try and earn playing time, but it is your job to come in and play like if you’re going to take their spot.’”

FIU will look to its returning seniors to set an example for the incoming freshman, including Siberian native, Jovana Bjelica, who some believe will become the team leader in 2012.

Bjelica embraces the role as a leader, as well as the pressure that comes with the title. Her numbers do all the talking as she led the entire Sun Belt Conference with a whopping 4.52 kills per set — a mark that ranked 13th in the nation. Bjelica also led her team with 1138 total assists and notched a leading 533 total points.

After spending the previous four years under the direction of Danijela Tomic, Theroulde inherits an FIU program that is not only transitioning into the new coaching regime, but is also poised for an excellent run in the upcoming season.

“[Theroulde] is definitely a lot more patient with us in terms of allowing players to develop and learn from their mistakes,” redshirt senior Renele Forde said. “Now with the new coaching staff, we hope to win the Sun Belt Conference, go to the NCAA Tournament and finally become a top 25 team this year.”

All throughout the offseason, Theroulde raved about shaping a new team dynamic for the 2012 campaign with a different athlete prototype, unlike any other that FIU fans have seen before. A team dynamic that will feature bigger, faster and better-conditioned athletes.

“I used to be the tallest player on the team,” Forde recalled. “But now we have more than a few 6’3”, 6’4” girls on the team.”

FIU will get their first opportunity to showcase their new team dynamic when they open up the season in the Campus USA Credit Union Invite, hosted by University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. FIU will take on in-state rival and host, University of Florida on Aug. 24 where Theroulde will make his head coaching debut. FIU closes out the invite with matchups against in-state competition versus Florida Gulf Coast on Aug. 25, followed by Florida A&M later on that day.

The 2012 campaign presents itself with matchups against some of the fiercest competition collegiate volleyball has to offer. The Panthers will play against nine 2011 NCAA Tournament participants including the heralded bout against instate counterpart and 2011 Final Four qualifier, Florida State University.

After a stretch of 12 back-to-back road matches, FIU will not play in the friendly confines of the US Century Bank Arena until Sept. 21, when it will battle Sun Belt rival, University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Other programs like Middle Tennessee State University are uncertain how the Panthers will respond to a coaching change as well as the addition with so many new players.

“FIU is a bit of a question mark for us, we really do not know a whole [lot] about how they will react and play under a new coaching staff,” MTSU’s head coach Matt Peck chimed in. “Just like our program, [FIU] also brought out in a lot of high ranked recruits, so it’s kind of hard to tell exactly if and who out of the freshman they will decide to play.”

As the Panthers await to embark on the toughest season in program history, Theroulde vows to have an altered approach to the 2012 season.

“There are some bad habits that need adjustments. We are trying the change the tempo and the speed of the game,” Theroulde stated.

“We are hoping the players create a competitive atmosphere but also work together as a cohesive team and push each other to be better.”

jonathan.jacobskind@fiusm.com