Another academic year begins, another athletic season begins.
While freshmen are getting ready to attend their first college football game, let’s remember IU has more than just football this fall. There’s also the eight-time national champion men’s soccer team. And 22 other sports — though not all play in the fall.
Because football and men’s soccer have such traction in our country, they tend to receive more preseason attention for their watch lists, preseason honors, etc., than other sports.
But IU does have other sports. And here’s who to keep an eye on this season:
Marissa Borschke, women’s soccer
The redshirt senior has started in every game over the past two seasons for the Hoosiers, a team that produced two-time Colombian Olympian Orianica Vélasquez. Though the team went 3-10-6 last season (0-7-4 Big Ten), Borschke was the team’s second-leading scorer with two goals on seven shots. As a defender, she was part of a backline that did not allow a goal in 463 minutes of play, the second-longest span in IU history. On Monday, she was named to the Big Ten’s preseason honors list, along with teammates Veronica Ellis and Kayla Smith. She has also been named to the Academic All-Big Ten list. Though this isn’t necessarily something to watch for on the field, it’s still important to note, because academics are important, kids.
Jazzmine McDonald,
volleyball
Fresh off a summer in Europe with the U.S. Collegiate National Team, the senior middle blocker will be coming back newly charged for the year. Working with a new set of coaches — coaches of a national team, at that — is always helpful in getting a new perspective. New coaches see new things. IU Coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan said McDonald’s offseason was full of growth for both her mental and physical game. Though she only played in 56 sets last season, McDonald recorded 105 kills and 39 blocks. That was enough to give her a team-high .323 hitting percentage, finishing 10th in the Big Ten. After spending a week with players and coaches from different parts of the country — and different athletic conferences — McDonald’s new skills will likely serve as a huge asset to the Hoosiers as they seek to improve on their 6-14 Big Ten record last season.
Sam Scire, field hockey
In her first season with the Hoosiers, this freshman forward comes fresh off a summer competing with New Jersey’s USA Field Hockey Junior High Performance team. Prior to that, she played for a Junior Olympic-qualifying club team and set a record for her high school with 113 goals. Scire graduated high school early to begin training with the Hoosiers in the spring and scored four goals in spring games. On Signing Day, Coach Amanda Janney cited Scire’s strengths as her ability to score and to set up her teammates to do the same. Her early edge with the Hoosiers’ style of play and her ability to score should make her a nice addition to a team on the rise that is coming off its first winning conference season since 2009.
jzega@indiana.edu
