The Michigan volleyball team begins its home schedule today, hosting the 1997 All Sport Volleyball Challenge. Competitors beware - this year the Wolverines are playing the field.
Freshman Joanna Fielder has already established herself as a key player for the Wolverines. Last weekend at the Washington Husky Tournament, the Southern California native made her collegiate debut against Rhode Island. She tallied 12 kills and 10 digs during the match, finishing the tournament with 23 kills.
"She played at a level that I didn't think she'd be ready this early for," Michigan coach Greg Giovanazzi said. "She's a very good attacker at this level."
Among the most appealing aspects of Fielder's game is her diversity as a player. She is strong in more than one area.
Senior Linnea Mendoza "is able to get her the ball really easily," Giovanazzi said. "(Fielder's) somebody that is very rangy, because she sets both in front of the setter and behind the setter.
"She did a very nice job of blocking. And probably the most pleasant aspect of her game is that she's able to play all the way around, so you don't have to sub her out in the backcourt.
"She's 6-2, so you don't really expect her to be as agile in the backcourt as she is. I think she's somebody that we can put in very comfortably for (middle blockers) Sarah Jackson or Linsey Ebert."
Fielder's strong debut not only gave her teammates and coaches confidence, but it also gave her the confidence she needed to be a productive member of the team.
"It's really reassuring, because at first I wasn't sure how I would do," Fielder said.
Physical prowess makes up only half of a dominating athlete. Intuition is equally as important. Fielder has the natural ability to know where she is needed at all times on the court.
"She has great athleticism," Mendoza said. "She's able to move and be at the right spot at the right time. She just instinctively knows what to do."
Hard work makes even the best athletes better, and Fielder is no exception. No matter what, she knows that she can work harder and improve in all aspects of her game.
"Her work ethic is excellent," Giovanazzi said. "It seems like a bane of some of the athletes here at Michigan is they're such perfectionists that they drive themselves crazy. They're so hard on themselves, and she's one of those."
Although every coach loves players that work hard, Giovanazzi thinks Fielder would benefit from a more relaxed attitude.
"I'd like to see her ease up on herself a little bit, enjoy playing, play with a little more passion maybe," Giovanazzi said.
According to Fielder, it is rare to be on a team where there is no dissension between any of its members, but that is not the case between her and her mates.
"Usually on a team there's going to be one or two people that you don't really get along with or really fit with," Fielder said.
"Not that there's anything wrong with them or you. Your personalities don't mesh well. Every single person on this team, I really get along with and really like to be around."
Away from the game, Fielder is more of a private person. It's not that she doesn't like to be with people and have a good time, she just likes to have some time to herself.
"I'm kind of an independent person," Fielder said. "I really like to be alone and do my own thing and not have to think about it. I do a lot of journal writing, just to get my mind off everything."
Should Fielder keep up at her current pace, a lot of people are going to be writing about her, and it might be hard to avoid some attention.
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Freshman volleyball player Joanna Fielder tallied 12 kills and 10 digs against Rhode island last week and has given her Michigan teammates, like Alija Pittenger, a lift early in the season.