Playing high school volleyball at Mt. Notre Dame (Ohio) High School, Syracuse freshman Mindy Stanislovaitis had to fight for her playing time. When she came to Syracuse, she knew she would to have fight for playing time all over again.

But earning her time on the court is something Stanislovaitis has become adjusted to – and is excelling at.

Stanislovaitis has garnered plenty of playing time and the right to start games for the Orange this year, including the squad’s Big East opener against Rutgers, and has become a key player for SU.

Syracuse (10-6, 1-0) travels to Louisville (7-4, 2-0) and Cincinnati (10-4, 2-0) this weekend for its first Big East road games of the year. With a sweep this weekend, the Orange will have eclipsed its win total from last year. The Cardinals and Bearcats are currently undefeated in conference play.

Stanislovaitis learned about securing time in high school and club volleyball.

‘In high school and club, I was never really handed a spot,’ Stanislovaitis said. ‘I always had to fight for that spot. The last couple of years have been the same thing. Last year in high school, we had 20 people on our roster, and so I had to fight with three other girls. So it’s always a matter of competition to me.’

The competition of earning playing time seems to have spurred Stanislovaitis’ play. The SU freshman has 92 kills on the season along with 28 total blocks, good for third-best on the team. The outside hitter was also one of three Orange players to be named to an all-tournament team this season when she earned the honor at the University of New Hampshire Tournament after a weekend with 29 kills. She has even found herself starting games with still more than half a season left.

‘It was always a dream in my head that I would be out there starting freshman year,’ Stanislovaitis said. ‘I knew it wouldn’t be handed to me because there are 16 other people on our team, and all of them are equally as good and they want to play, too, so everybody has to be fighting.’

The playing time was not easy to come by. SU assistant coach Carol LaMarche said the coaches knew when Stanislovaitis came in, she was going to have to fight for time but started to get playing time after a game against Akron. She also said playing as a freshman shows Stanislovaitis’ talent.

‘It’s very rare to see a freshman get a lot of play time, even more a starting

position,’ LaMarche said. ‘She’s fighting against a couple of other really solid players, two that found a lot of play in the past, and to be able to come in, step on the court, get the job done almost every time, just shows that she’s a good player.’

The play time she has earned has impressed her fellow players.

‘It’s hard to fight against all these players that have been playing so long,’ SU freshman Sarah Hayes said. ‘To play in her freshman year and just start is amazing.’

LaMarche said that Stanislovaitis has become an integral part of the team and the coaches see her continuing to get playing time on the right side of the court – whether it’s starting or being the first player off the bench.

Even though she has become an integral part of the team, she knows there are players as good as her waiting to play her minutes. That might seem like pressure to some, but it motivates Stanislovaitis.

‘It’s a competition,’ Stanislovaitis said. ‘You’re fighting and they’re getting better so you have to keep getting better every day out there on the court, so week to week you have to get better or someone else will movie in front of you and play.’

To continue to start and to see quality playing minutes, Stanislovaitis knows she will have to continue to fight for that right – something she’s used to.

‘It’s always been like that for me, I’ve always been fighting for a spot,’ Stanislovaitis said. ‘Because as much as I want to play, other girls want to play, too, so we all got to come in there and fight every day at practice. Whoever does the best is the one that gets the start.’

Published on September 29, 2007 at 12:00 pm