FIU gathering some of the best from around the world
FIU is determined to make this a statement season and put last year’s injury plagued season behind them. They will be doing so with a team that is just as international as it is American. Eight out of the 16 players on the team this year are from outside of America. From the Puerto Rico to Russia, Italy to Croatia; this years’ team truly has an international flavor to it.
“It’s always been one of the strengths of the FIU program to have such diverse nationalities on the team because each player, whether American or International, brings something different that helps the team succeed,” redshirt junior setter Jessica Egan said.
It’s not only the players but the coaching staff as well. Associate Head Coach Felix Hou, was just added to the staff this year and brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience from the professional leagues of China. A world of knowledge will be available to the players this year.
“The players from Europe are used to playing with older competition since professional leagues work differently overseas,” Egan said. “That playing experience enables them to share with their American teammates some of the attributes they pick up on such as leadership and responsibility which can really help guide the freshman and newcomers.”
Newcomers important piece of the puzzle
While there was much excitement about the women’s volleyball team at the start of last year, after just a few games and injuries to key players it became obvious that lack of depth was too much to overcome. The team never formed any sense of continuity or a solid rotation eventually leading to an earlier than expected finish to the season.
That is something the team will try to change this year and it starts with some of the newcomers to the squad this year. FIU signed three new players for this upcoming season, including two more international players.
“While we are just in preseason, from what I have seen so far, I expect our new setter (Anabela Satoric) coming in to make great contributions to the team,” Hou said.
Satoric has been the source of much buzz around the team so far this year. Sataric comes to FIU from Biberist, Switzerland, where she attended Kantonsschule Solothurn. The 6-foot-0 setter was a member of the Swiss Junior Team and served as a captain on the international junior tournament squad in Holland in the summer of 2011. Sataric also has a sister, Darija, who is a member of the nearby Florida Atlantic University Owls’ indoor and beach volleyball squads.
Just how tough is Conference USA
The University of Tulsa won its second Conference USA Volleyball Championship title when Golden Hurricane defeated UCF, 25-15, 25-19, 25-17 last year in the championship match.
C-USA Player of the Year Tyler Henderson led the attack with 20 kills on 32 attempts that match. The senior outside hitter hit .500 over the three sets, only making four errors, and had three digs and three blocks. Her effort did not go unnoticed.
For the third consecutive year, Tulsa senior Tyler Henderson was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America second team. With Tulsa being the only team even left in the conference from last year’s four semi-final teams, new schools could find success early on.
“It anyone’s game this year and I am excited to see different teams and play a new level of talent. We are going to make a mark on this conference right away and we want the nation to know FIU volleyball is back,” Egan said.
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