New faces bring new energy to UNCW volleyball

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — A lot has changed inside Hanover Hall for UNCW volleyball. Eleven of the Seahawks’ 16 players are new this season, bringing experience, competition and a new dynamic to the gym. But for this group, becoming a team started long before the first serve.

Senior setter Gaby Zovko may be new to Wilmington, but she is far from new to college volleyball. The 6-foot-2 setter has already emerged as one of the players to watch in UNCW’s new-look lineup.

“The transition was a lot more seamless than I think most would expect with so many new people, but when you put together this group of people who wanna be good and wanna play volleyball, it was so easy,” Zovko said.

Head coach Lo Hoyer said Zovko came to UNCW with plenty of experience, including earning player of the year honors in a previous conference.

“Her maturity, size, and athleticism has done really great things,” Hoyer said.

Zovko is just one piece of a roster Hoyer spent the offseason rebuilding. Three newcomers arrived mid-year, with more joining the program in August. Hoyer said the staff was looking for players who wanted to help build something, not simply join it.

“Everybody that knew that they wanted to come here, they wanted to win, they wanted to be part of building a winning program and understood the work that are required,” Hoyer said.

The Seahawks did not wait for the season to begin putting in that work. Almost the entire team was in Wilmington on its own during July, getting reps together and building chemistry before official practice began. Now, players are battling for positions, taking on new roles and learning what the new-look lineup can do.

For Zovko, every match is another opportunity for the Seahawks to prove something.

“Whatever gym we step in in preseason, we’re there to prove a point,” Zovko said. “I think going into conference, it’s a new conference for me and a lot of people here, so we all have a point to prove with every game.”

Senior setter Maris Grant is one of the few Seahawks who has been with the program since her freshman year. As one of the team’s returning veterans, she is helping provide leadership for a roster filled with new faces. Her mindset for the season can be summed up in a few words.

“Just continuing to try and paint the walls teal everywhere we go,” Grant said. “And just act like we’re here and play our hardest.”

Hoyer believes the combination of new talent, experience and early chemistry gives this group a chance to accomplish things UNCW volleyball has not done in a long time.

The Seahawks will continue using their nonconference schedule to test the new roster, build chemistry and prepare for CAA play.