Ean Goldstein ’23
Staff Writer
goldsteineh@lakeforest.edu
The Forester women’s volleyball team has been on a roll lately, having won five of their last six matches, as of October 7. A big part of that success has been thanks to senior libero Izzi Visnjevac ’23, who was recently named Midwest Conference Defensive Performer of the Week, after totalling 60 digs in three matches. Additionally, Visnjevac has recently put herself in the Forester history books, after reaching 100 career service aces, and 1,000 career digs, the latter of which puts her ninth in Forester history. Stentor staff talked to Visnjevac about the success of both her team and herself.
Where are you from?
McHenry, Illinois
What’s your major?
Finance & Data Science
How long have you been playing volleyball?
I have been playing volleyball ever since the 5th grade, so 11 years.
What is your favorite part about playing for the volleyball team?
My favorite part about being on the volleyball team is getting to share the same love for the game with my teammates. We all have been playing for a long time, and nothing feels better than getting to experience that collective passion, and shared values and intentionality on the court with the girls that love this sport as much as I do.
What is the most important part about being a libero?
The most important thing about being a libero is being a leader in the back row of the court. Normally, when people think of volleyball, they automatically are attracted to the end result which comes from either the set or the kill. However, the start of the play begins with the pass. So being in the libero position, I think the most important aspect is always being ready to pass and do whatever I can to better the ball, so that the setting and the hitting are spot-on, and we can execute the ball.
How does it feel to be named MWC Defensive Performer of the Week?
Being named MWC Defensive Performer of the Week is a great feeling. It honestly makes all of my hard work pay off and it is always so rewarding getting recognized for it. However, it doesn’t stop here for me. I am still going to continue focusing on my responsibilities and roles on the team each and every game, especially heading into conference play, as it has been one of our goals to make it to the conference tournament this season.
How special was it to reach the 1,000 dig and 100 service ace marks in your LFC career?
I honestly was caught by surprise when I reached my 1,000th dig. I didn’t even realize that I was receiving the nomination, which made it even more special. It definitely is a milestone that not many can say they have surpassed. It makes me proud to be a Forester, but most importantly I want to express gratitude to all my coaches and supporters because I honestly could not have accomplished this without their constant support and belief in me. It makes me reflect on my time here at LFC and how fortunate I am to be at an amazing place where growth, success, and perseverance are valued and encouraged above all else.
What is one thing you and your team are looking to improve on in the rest of the season?
One thing as a team that we have been looking to improve on for the rest of the season is playing at a consistent level. We always talk about controlling our side of the game first before looking across the net at our opponents. And that comes with fixating our own discipline on being as consistent as we possibly can in our play. Whether it is on serve-receive, defense, or when we have possession of the ball, we always try to stress the concept of playing collectively and coherently.
What has been the key to your and your team’s success this season?
A key to our team’s success this season is always staying in the present moment. With whatever is at task, we try to focus on what we are currently doing at that given time and how it is going to make us better. It is definitely easier said than done, but I think it has allowed us to be much more successful this season by focusing on the little steps first to achieve those overarching goals we have established.
