by Ben Wright
LSU Sports Information
It might seem that LSU Volleyball Head Coach Fran Flory would have a lot to worry about with only two seniors on her roster. However, the eighth-year head coach seems to be quite confident in her team’s chances of returning to the top of the SEC, thanks in no small part to the European connection of Ivana Kuzmic and Jelena Mijatovic.
Kuzmic and Mijatovic, 6-4 and 6-1 respectively, form an imposing front line and have helped to lead the Tigers to their best start since 1991. According to Coach Flory LSU was lucky to snag the duo.
“We were thrilled when we had the opportunity to have Ivana and Jelena join us,” said Flory. “They both came to us through (former assistant) Danijela Tomic, who had European connections with them.”
Kuzmic, Mijatovic and the rest of the Tigers have been dominant early in the 2005 season. Despite playing all of their games on the road, due to Hurricane Katrina, the team has a10-1 record, which includes a recent five game win over then No. 8 Notre Dame. A match in which, Kuzmic recorded a season-best 13 blocks, including the 600th of her career. She became only the third player in LSU history achieve that feat. Not to be out done, Mijatovic chipped in with her fifth double double of the season, which included a season high 25 kills.
For those college sports fans that fear the day of the true student athlete may be coming to an end, they need look no further than these two players, who have used their athletic talents to gain educational opportunities unavailable to them back home. Playing for LSU has allowed both Kuzmic and Mijatovic to excel off the court.
Kuzmic, a native of Croatia, is truly grateful for the opportunity to continue her studies in America.
“After high school it was a turning point for me back home,” she said. “It was time for me to decide what I wanted to do, play professional volleyball or work on my education.”
After playing two seasons at University of Arkansas-Little Rock, Kuzmic decided that LSU would provide a better academic fit and give her a chance to pursue her passion for art. She took advantage of the opportunity to study abroad, taking summer courses in Italy, during the recent off-season.
“She felt like she would have an opportunity to be successful here and not just volleyball wise,” Flory said. “That came to fruition with her going to study in Italy, and that’s what this is all about.”
Hampered by back pain much of her junior year, Kuzmic still managed to lead the SEC in blocks per game. Now recovered, she is helping lead her team again in 2005.
“I want to do my best to help the team,” said Kuzmic. “I’m glad to be rid of my back injury and I think I’m going to be capable of giving 100 percent in whatever they ask me to do.”
The same leadership will certainly be provided by, Jelena Mijatovic, one of the SEC’s most outstanding servers. A ferocious competitor Mijatovic led the conference last year in aces per game, and her passion for her sport stands out.
“I love competing,” she said. “I like to see how far I can go and what I can do with this game.”
Mijatovic spent two years playing for Northwood University in Michigan, where she was in the top 10 in school history in five statistical categories. Much like Kuzmic, Mijatovic was lured by the chance to attend a major university and has fallen in love with LSU after joining the Tigers.
“I just love it. I love the campus. I love the people and I love the school,” said Mijatovic.
According to coach Flory, both Kuzmic and Mijatovic still have tremendous potential for improvement in their final season at the collegiate level.
“The bonus of the international player is that they understand the game at a different level, but it does take them a while to adjust to the pace and the style we have,” she said. “I think their impact is really going to be felt this year. I believe they’re both going to have great senior campaigns.”
Those sentiments will certainly be shared by LSU fans everywhere, as they continue to follow the 2005 Tigers through what promises to be one of the best seasons in the program’s history.