Jonathan Jacobskind/ Staff Writer
Nine losses and five injuries later, the Panthers are finally playing a home game after a grueling 12-game stretch that saw FIU take on six top-25 opponents.
Trevor Theroulde has not had the smoothest transition into the head coaching role because he has been forced to play with a different line up in virtually every match due to the injuries that have devastated the team.
After witnessing five key players go down with “freakish” injuries, Theroulde insisted that the team’s strength and conditioning program needs to do a better job of keeping his players physically ready to compete.
Photo by Jasen Delgado
“One thing we are really trying to do is go back to basics and implement drills that improve volleyball conditioning,” Theroulde said. “We need to control the things we can control and make sure the girls train hard so they can be physically ready to play through our passing and serving drills.”
Despite the Panthers possibly getting back some of their injured players — including senior setter, Renele Ford as well as All Sun Belt hitter, Jovana Bjelica — Theroulde must gradually allow them to get back into volleyball shape.
“Even if they’re back, they need to get volleyball ready. They have not been able to do the things that they need to do to in order to get back into shape,” Theroulde said. “It takes a little longer to get back to playing at the tempo of a real game situation and other volleyball activity.”
Forde is recovering from an abdominal injury that has limited her cardio exercise, and Bjelica continues to recover from the broken bone in her right hand which she suffered before the first game of the season.
CONFERENCE CLASH
Theroulde and the squad will finally embark on the portion of the season that matters the most, the Sun Belt schedule. FIU will get their first glimpse of Sun Belt action as they prepare to take on the University of Arkansas Little Rock Trojans (4-8). The team will finally come to play in the friendly confines of the U.S. Century Bank Arena.
With the matchup against UALR approaching, Theroulde is putting emphasis on battling their first Sun Belt foe of the 2012 campaign and stressing its importance. This match marks the first time many of the girls get to play in front of a home crowd.
“For a young team like us, it’s just great to be home after playing in the road for the last four weeks it just feels great to be in the friendly confines of FIU,” Theroulde said.
FIU will take on a UALR squad that has a premier player worth boasting about in Bosnia native, Edina Begic. The 6-foot-2 outside hitter is coming off an exceptional year where she was tabbed as the 2011 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. Begic posted huge numbers last year as she notched 30 kills in one match against Middle Tennessee.
“Edina is an exceptional player and can single handedly destroy a team,” Theroulde said. “She has the ability to take over a game and she is definitely someone we need to address.”
The match is slated for Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m. The Trojans will try to avenge to 0-3 shutout that Panthers handed down in their 2011 bout. The Panthers continue their Sun Belt schedule as they take on Arkansas State on Sept. 23 at 1 p.m.
jonathan.jacobskind@fiusm.com
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