Volleyball working toward a turnaround season in 2015


Head Coach Rita Buck-Crockett enters her third season as head coach of the indoor volleyball program.

Head Coach Rita Buck-Crockett enters her third season as head coach of the indoor volleyball program.

By Joel Delgado ’12 MS ’17 

Could FIU indoor volleyball be poised for a big turnaround in 2015? With the team retaining most of its starters from last year and the addition of several talented players, Head Coach Rita Buck-Crockett certainly thinks so.

For the first time in several years, the Panthers will begin their season in the friendly confines of FIU Arena with the Panther Challenge tournament on Aug. 28. FIU will take on North Florida on Friday night at 7 p.m. before taking on Alabama A&M and USF on Aug. 29.

Admission to all of this weekend’s matches are free to the public.

The Panthers have not started a season at home since hosting the University of Miami Hurricanes to kick off the 2004 season.

“It’s nice that we can start out at home, especially since we are a young team, and settle in before going on the road,” Buck-Crockett said. “All of these teams coming in are good and it’s going to be an exciting tournament. It’s going to be a good test for us.”

The Panthers are looking to put last season behind them after compiling a 7-23 record overall (4-12 in Conference USA) with many of their struggles coming late in matches. The team conceded 33 out of 48 sets in the third set and later to opponents throughout the course of the season.

During the preseason, Buck-Crockett said her team was focused on finding go-to players who can help the Panthers close out opponents late in sets.

“We just didn’t have a finisher, that go-to player. We have to develop that this year and it needs to be developed by the season opener,” Buck-Crockett said earlier in the preseason.

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Lucia Castro led the Panthers’ attack in 2014 with 368 kills.

In addition to retaining virtually all of their top producers from last season – including Lucia Castro (368 kills, 337 digs), Gloria Levorin (242 kills, 98 blocks) and Jennifer Ene (215 kills, 91 blocks) – the Panthers bring in a recruiting class filled with “game-changers,” according to Buck-Crockett.

“They were impact players last year and they will definitely be impact players this year,” Buck-Crockett says. “We lose no talent. Everyone is coming back and they are very hungry to get this team to the conference finals. They want a championship ring really bad.”

Among the newcomers, Buck-Crockett is excited to see how Miami-Dade College transfer Katie Hogan, a junior middle blocker, helps out the team on the attacking side. Hogan helped lead the Sharks to the Florida Junior College State Championships and the Finals of the National Junior College Championships in 2014 with 330 kills.

“She’s a terminator. She’s going to bring a lot to the table,” Buck-Crockett said of Hogan.

Some freshmen may step in and contribute right away for the Panthers as well. Puerto Rico native and outside hitter Lina Bernier was tabbed by Buck-Crockeett as a player to watch among that group as a freshman who can make an impact on the floor right away.

“She is one of the best players in Puerto Rico,” Buck-Crockett said of Bernier. “She’s going to add flare and fire to this team.”

For more information on FIU indoor volleyball and ticket information, go to FIUSports.com.