Some volleyball fans may have noticed that the UCLA women’s volleyball team has a different look this season: The Bruins are playing without Jordan Smith, the team leader in digs for the past two seasons.
The absence of the would-be junior libero has changed things up in the lineup for the Bruins.
Smith joined the team in the 2005 season as a walk-on outside hitter. During preseason practice, she switched positions to train as a libero and surprised everyone when she took over the starting libero spot at the beginning of the Pac-10 season. That year, Smith went on the lead the team with 425 digs and had 21 matches with double digits in digs.
After a successful 2006 season, in which Smith helped the Bruins reach the Final Four, she decided that she did not want to rejoin the team in spring training.
According to the team, Smith made her decision based on what was best for her and her future.
“She decided she did not want to play volleyball anymore and concentrate on being a student,” Coach Andy Banachowski said.
Smith still attends UCLA as a student.
While Smith put all of her effort into her two seasons on the squad, she told her teammates that she did not think it would be fair to stay on the team if she was not completely focused on the sport.
Former teammate, junior outside hitter Ali Daley, said that she was shocked to hear of Smith’s choice and sad to see her go.
“Jordan was so close to a lot of us,” Daley said.
“She might have thought that her contribution for the next year would not have been in it as much as in the past.”
While Daley acknowledges how talented Smith was, she also understands her reasons for leaving the sport.
“I think in volleyball especially, sometimes when you’re an athlete there comes a time when you are just done playing,” Daley said. “And you don’t feel it in your heart anymore.”
“Obviously, we miss her, but as long as she is happy, we’re happy,” junior setter Nellie Spicer added.
With the absence of Smith, juniors Jade Machado and Jessica Fine have stepped in and taken over the libero and defensive specialist duties of the team. Machado currently leads the team with 193 digs for the season.
“Jade has done an absolute incredible job this year,” Spicer said. “She has exceeded everyone’s expectations and has really come through for the team, which has helped a lot in terms of missing Jordan.”
NEW JERSEYS A SIGHT TO “˜C’: The team has worn new, commemorative jerseys so far this season. The “˜C’ in “UCLA” is yellow, while the rest of the letters are blue. The coloring is designed to mark the athletic department’s 100th national championship, which was won by the women’s water polo team last year. “˜C’ is the roman numeral for 100.
The women’s volleyball team is not the only team that plans to use a specially colored “˜C.’ The football team already has its end zone painted with similar lettering.