Sports
Kosiorek Comes Out Swinging
< < Back to kosiorek-comes-out-swingingJamie Kosiorek was introduced with Ohio’s starting lineup for her first slate of Division-1 college volleyball matches last weekend in Hawaii.
“I shouldn’t have been as nervous as I was. It’s just volleyball, no one changed it,” the freshman outside hitter said.
If she was nervous, she didn’t show it.
Kosiorek had a standout opening weekend performance for the Bobcats in the Chevron Rainbow Wahine Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii. Even with some first-time jitters, the Chagrin Falls, Ohio, native was able to rack up 27 kills in three matches against nationally-ranked Hawaii and Arizona State and Mountain West contender San Diego State. In last Saturday’s five-setter with the Sun Devils, she recorded eight aces.
Although coach Deane Webb said he never could have predicted Kosiorek’s school-record-tying performance in her third match, he knew from the beginning that she was going to be a solid server, having recorded serving speeds at practice of approximately 56 mph.
“It was one of my most exciting moments as a coach this weekend watching players who haven’t hadn’t had those types of opportunities before make the most of them,” he said during a press conference Tuesday.
Kosiorek said she has always felt confident in her serving ability; she has been jump serving since age 13. Having played through middle school, high school and club volleyball, it was not uncommon for her to simply go up, swing hard and serve an ace. Last weekend, however, the freshmen learned that even when she was bringing the service heat, the skilled opponents on the other side of the net were able receive and make a play out of it.
“Me as a player I was like ‘OK, how do I get this ace?’” Kosiorek said. “And I think that’s part of why I served well against Arizona State because I had that realization that what I’m used to my whole life being an ace, is not an ace anymore.”
Success from the service line was not all Kosiorek accomplished in her debut tournament in green and white. She finished second on the team in kills right behind senior teammate and mentor Kelly Lamberti.
“She is super fun to watch,” Kosiorek said. “Just to watch her, she’s teaching me so much without even realizing it.”
Kosiorek said AVCA All-American Lamberti is helpful in guiding her on the court, giving her positive encouragement and critiques when needed, something Kosiorek said she appreciates in a good teammate.
“Especially her being an outside hitter and a senior and as successful as she is. I really couldn’t have asked for a better player to come behind and learn from,” Kosiorek said.
As with any player, there is always room for improvement, something that coach Webb is looking forward to witnessing throughout the season in one of his newest Bobcats.
“I think Jaime, she has the potential to be great,” he said. “ The key is can she remain hungry? Can she in the next five months do what she did in the last five months? Can she work just as hard going forward as she did to prepare herself to compete at the college level?”
With Kosiorek’s athletic playing style and competitive background, coach Webb said she is more than capable of rising to the occasion in any situation. In terms of the key to reaching her highest potential, the freshman is using a simple approach, taking everything one play at a time.
“(I try to) just get better every time (I) touch a ball in practice,” she said.
Kosiorek will play her first collegiate game in front of her family and home fans when the Bobcats host the Baymont Inn & Suites Invitational this weekend at the Convocation Center. Ohio will take on Texas A&M Friday at 7 p.m., VCU at noon on Saturday and finish up play Saturday at 7 p.m. against Virginia Tech.