Ziva Recek was as good as anyone could have expected in 2012.
As a freshman, Recek led the Gators with four kills per set and was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year, the AVCA Freshman of the Year and was selected to the All-SEC team.
After that kind of year, how could a player improve?
“Be a sophomore,” coach Mary Wise said.
The 6-foot outside hitter brought in the accolades after her first season, but this year she wants to bring home national hardware.
“We have a really good team this year,” Recek said. “We want to keep playing as long as we can.”
Recek said she has put a lot of work into improving for her second season of college volleyball.
She has a lot to live up to. She led the team in kills with 440 in 2012, topping middle blocker Chloe Mann’s total of 380.
“I was just doing a lot of individual work and taking all the reps in the gym,” Recek said. “Whenever I had a chance to swing the ball, I want to do my best.”
However, the word is out about Florida’s European threat.
“The difference will be Ziva will not take anybody by surprise anymore,” Wise said. “She will be the highlight on … everyone’s scouting report.”
It took Recek some time to adjust to living in the U.S. and playing with UF, but she said she feels more comfortable on and off the court — including finding American food she enjoys.
“Americans … have good Italian restaurants,” she said. “That’s kind of like what I used to eat at home.”
Recek had a chance to showcase her talent at a high level after the season ended. She went to her native Slovenia and played for the Slovenian National Team.
Recek said she thought a match between the Slovenian team and the Florida team would be tightly contested, but she knows which side she would choose.
“I’d be on the UF team,” Recek said.
Contact Adam Lichtenstein at alichtenstein@alligator.org.
Ziva Recek speaks during Volleyball Media Day on Friday at the Lemerand Athletics Center.
