By Liam Reilly
@liampreilly852
The Springfield College women’s volleyball team is off to another good start this season. Through the Pride’s first 18 games, they are 13-5 with a conference record of 4-2. A big reason for that success is sophomore Jodi Saelua, who has worked her way to becoming a standout starter for Springfield.
Saelua has become an offensive threat for the Pride, recording 132.5 points and 111 kills. Her .316 hitting percentage is ranked fourth best in the NEWMAC conference. She’s also a defensive menace as her 40 blocks are second on the team.
Before dominating the James Naismith Court at Blake Arena, Saelua started her volleyball journey as a fourth grader playing at a small private school in her hometown of Mililani, Hawaii. By the time she reached sixth grade, Saelua started playing competitively with different clubs. Her family served as an inspiration for her as her mother, father and aunt all played, and her brother currently plays volleyball.
Saelua first heard of Springfield College in high school, which incentivized her to visit the summer before her junior year. Saelua was doing research on schools that had a good physical therapy and volleyball program, eventually pointing her in the direction of Springfield. During her visit, she met women’s volleyball head coach Moira Long.
“I was really nervous,” Saelua said about meeting Long. “But the first thing I noticed was that she was very passionate about the game, and I really liked that because I’m also very passionate. She’s just very supportive.”
After her visit, Saelua committed to Springfield as a physical therapy major. As a first-year player, Saelua saw limited action coming off the bench. She played in 40 sets, notching 21 kills and 27.5 blocks.
Off the court, Saelua had a difficult time being 5,010 miles away from Mililani. Not being able to see her family and adapting to the colder weather was tough for Saelua, but she was able to lean on her team for support.
“I have a really good support system in my teammates,” Saelua said. “They’re always there for me and my coach is like a second mom to me, so that makes it really easier.”
With a season of experience under her belt, Saelua has seen her role increased. She’s become a starter for the Pride, and in just 18 matches Saelua has shattered her first season stats. Since their Spring practice, Long has noticed an increase in Saelua’s confidence.
“This year we’ve seen her grow on the court and be more of a presence,” Long said. “She’s embraced the starting role and embraced the fact that we want to run our middle and give her the ball. We trust in her so much.”
Saelua has also become a factor for the team off the court, passing on the advice she once heard her first year, being a leader for the underclassmen. Despite being in just her second year on the team, she has already taken the responsibility of hosting a recruit. According to Long, Saelua made the recruit feel welcomed and at home.
The comfort on the court has expanded off of it as well, as Long believes that Saelua has by far one of the biggest personalities on the team.
“She’s so entertaining and funny,” Long said. “She loves her friends and teammates so much. She loves volleyball. We’ve seen her show that personality a little bit more and more with each passing day. Every day we see a little bit more of that outgoing and gregarious personality.”
Long detailed that it takes time for Saelua’s personality to bloom.
“I don’t think until you talk to Jodi, you don’t realize just how funny she is,” Long said. “In addition to that she’s really intelligent. Jodi’s super kind and empathetic and funny. There’s a lot of depth to Jodi that when you first meet her you don’t recognize because she’s a little bit quiet.”
Saelua is closest on the team with the rest of her sophomore class: Tori Colosimo, Ahunna James and Olivia Nealy.
“When she’s with the other sophomores they feed off of each other,” Long said. “They’re always saying funny things or imitating TikToks. She [Saelua] brings a lot of joy to those around here, she’s always singing and they’re always dancing to music. You could put a camera on Jodi and follow her around and you would laugh 95 percent of the time.
With nine games left to go, the Pride are halfway through their season. A goal for the program is to win the NEWMAC, as they are fourth in conference standings as of Oct. 16, while only three games back from first place. Saelua’s personal goal is to stay confident in her abilities and skills to help the team reach its main goal.
It’s common in the world of sports for an athlete to have a down game or to feel a lot of pressure. But it’s also up to the athlete to be able to find ways to keep themselves from getting discouraged. Saelua’s method is by relying on her teammates.
“I went through that earlier this season and something my teammates said to me afterwards to be where my feet are, and don’t worry so much about yourself,” Saelua said. “Don’t play internally, focus on what you can do to make the team better as a whole.”
Saelua and the women’s volleyball team play their next game at noon on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Blake Arena. They go up against Mount Holyoke College, a program that the Pride are 29-0 against.