Jonathan Jacobskind/ Staff Writer
No matter the team or sport, nothing positive comes after losing five starters most of the time.
Usually, it leads to a string of losses a
nd forces a team to play with backups or less experienced players. This is exactly what’s happening with the 2012 volleyball squad, as an array of injuries to key starters has sunk them to a 4-10 record.
But as the Panthers continue to weather the storm, a new light has shined on their hopes of reaching a Sun Belt championship, with the emergence of freshman setter Ashlee Hodgskin.
In a little more than a month, she has become the cornerstone of Head Coach Trevor Theroulde’s squad.
“With Ashlee, it’s like if you’re doing an NFL Draft and with the number one draft pick you select a quarterback and you want to build your team around that quarterback,” Theroulde said. “Ashlee is that pivotal player that you would want to pick.”
Hodgskin is an in-state talent, an Orlando native who picked up a volleyball for the first time when she was 6 years old.
She had bounced around three different high schools when she finally found herself at Olympia High School for her senior year. There she served as the team captain and picked up MVP honors. Her success did not come easy as she had to sacrifice her life as a normal high school student to excel on the court.
“All the time I spent playing volleyball and training, I had to give up doing some stuff as a normal kid,” Hodgskin said. “But I really enjoy it, so it’s all worth it.“
The 5-foot-9 setter did not let her height get the best of her. She steamrolled her senior year and was named Athlete of the Year. She was also a part of one of the premier volleyball club teams in the state, Top Select Volleyball Academy Club Team where she contributed to their 2009 title as well as being recognized as the team MVP the following year.
With Hodgskin’s club and high school volleyball days were coming to a close, it was time to make decisions about college. Upon her unofficial visit to FIU, she already had a clear-cut choice of where she was going to play collegiate volleyball. It would be at FIU.
“I just love this campus, I really enjoy being here,” Hodgskin said. “I wanted to stay in Florida and I have always wanted to go to school in Miami.”
The setter burst into the college scene against Florida A&M University where she notched 38 total assists, followed by a 41-assist showing against the Rattlers. Hodgskin did not tap the breaks as she exploded for 53 assists against the Colorado State Rams, her season high as of Sept. 28.
After posting an 8.63 assists per set mark, she took the starting role in the place of senior Jessica Egan who was sidelined with an illness and likely to be back sometime in the next few weeks.
“Ashlee came in with a lot of skill level and great leadership abilities,” Theroulde said. “Once Egan went down, it allowed her to come in and start immediately as a true freshman.”
Hodgskin’s toughness and will to win evident as she dives on the wood court, sacrificing her health for the team.
“You will not find another true-hearted, flag-waving, reach down deep, human being other than my good-willed niece,” said Donald Hodgskin, Ashlee’s uncle. “She will never, ever quit.”
jonathan.jacobskind@fiusm.com
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