Women's Volleyball Team 5 - 0: It's Their Serve

The Florida State College at Jacksonville Stars women's volleyball team is back from their 15th consecutive conference championship win and their 15th consecutive year of losing the regional championship. This year, the team is dedicated to breaking that losing streak.So far, the team is undefeated with five wins and no losses, as of Sept. 9.

The team is already preparing for their toughest opponents, according to Coach Mary Andrew.

"Our preparation is always for [Miami Dade College], and Palm Beach Community College is in our district," said Coach Andrew. "Those are the two toughest teams that we usually play."

According to Coach Andrew, the Stars keep running into Miami Dade College at the regional championship because Miami-Dade has won the regional title for twenty straight years.

Allison Riner, a 19-year-old business major, and Olivia Drew, a 19-year-old physical therapy major, are two of the six returning sophomores on the team.

According to them, college volleyball is a larger commitment than they were used to at the high school level because "a lot more is expected" from them.

Unfortunately for the team, the gym that they normally use at South Campus has been undergoing renovations, and it is not ready to be opened. As a result, the team has been training and playing off-campus.

"It's an inconvenience because I have to drive a van with the players every day to the practice facility which is about twelve miles away, so it takes a little more time out of our day, which makes life more hectic," said Coach Andrew. "We did that two times-a-day during preseason training, but they are a very talented team, and so far they have been very cooperative. As long as they get to play volleyball and go to school, they are happy."

Nina Kontrec joins Drew and Riner as a returning sophomore on the team, and she is dedicated to making the team better.

Kontrec is a 19-year-old exchange student who comes from Slovenia, and for her, playing for Florida State College at Jacksonville is a dream come true.

"Coach Andrew saw me play and offered me a scholarship here, and I was really excited. I was like, 'Sure!'" said Kontrec. "It's a great opportunity; I get to learn the language, discover another culture, and play volleyball. So that's how I ended up here.

"I had played some American teams before, and I had always dreamt about [playing in America]."

Kontrec is hopeful about the upcoming season. She said that the team did well last year until the end of the season.

"Last year, we were good. Maybe we just didn't have enough luck, or maybe we weren't focused at the end," said Kontrec, who is majoring in journalism. "Hopefully, this year we will go to the regional championship and do well. From there, I don't know, maybe the national championship."

The volleyball team lives together at The District on Kernan, and Drew said that living together helps the team develop a better camaraderie. She also said that living in a dorm-like situation gives the team more of a university feeling than a community college feeling.

"At first, I didn't really want to play at a community college, but once I learned where they lived and what all this involved, I was in," said Drew.

Drew, Riner, and Kontrec would all like to continue volleyball after they graduate from Florida State College at Jacksonville.

"I actually hope to play for as long as I am able to because this is my way of life," said Kontrec.

For the sophomores, they will play their hardest and see what colleges give them offers.

Moreover, Coach Andrew believes the team will do well this year.

"I think we're pretty strong, I actually think we have one of the stronger teams that we've had for a long time," said Coach Andrew. "As long as we're strong every year, if we have confidence, if we go to the state tournament, and if we have a shot of going to nationals, then I'm happy.