By Robert Pelaez – STAFF WRITER
It’s no secret that the Hofstra volleyball this year is a force to be reckoned with. With incredible young talent and the endurance to push to the very last point, the team is getting better each day, according to sophomore middle blocker Leticia Valente.
Joining the team after playing 30 out of 33 matches as a freshman at Mississippi State, Valente has made a strong impact for the 16-9 Pride. Second on the team with 305 kills and 357.5 points, the 6-foot-2-inch force in the middle credits it to her coaches and teammates.
I had a chance to catch up with Leticia after practice and talked a little about how her on- and off-court relationship with the rest of the team has bolstered this squad towards the goal of a CAA Title.
Robert Pelaez: So, to start, how long have you been playing volleyball for?
Leticia Valente: I’ve been playing volleyball since I was 13 years old, so eight years ago. And it’s been a game I’ve loved since the start.
RP: What was the transfer process from Mississippi State to here like?
LV: Transferring, as far as paperwork and office stuff, was okay but as for volleyball, it was kind of hard because my ex-coach was fired for whatever reasons it was. So that made it a little easier for me to leave but it just felt kind of unnatural. I had to change coaches and it made me just not want to be there anymore.
RP: Why Hofstra out of other schools you were considering?
LV: I was looking for a school that would be right next to a big city and Hofstra is a great school for me, especially because my major is economics. But I really love living this close to the city because I’m from Sãu Paulo. So, I ended up choosing to go to a good school in a big city.
RP: What would you say has been the team’s biggest key to success here?
LV: I think the biggest key right now would be teamwork. We don’t have anyone here that’s a superstar but we have a lot of stars that can execute and make for a great team.
RP: What is it like to help freshmen like Perez and Domingues develop their game so they can lead future teams?
LV: It’s a great feeling and I think especially the off-the-court relationships we all have with each other are a huge part of it. We talk to them, make them feel comfortable with the pressure because they’re not too used to it yet. As for inside the court, just constant communication, like, “you’re doing good, keep it up.”
RP: How have the upperclassmen here helped you?
LV: All the upperclassmen are really great, plus Karina is my roommate. Hannah is a great supporter, always trying to help me out whenever I or anyone else needs it. It’s reassuring to know they always have our backs.
RP: Who would you say has been your biggest role model in your life?
LV: In my life I would say the mid-blocker for the Brazilian national team, Adenizia Da Silva. She’s an amazing player with an incredible backstory and an amazing person too. She has definitely been someone I try to model some of my life after.
RP: What is a typical game day like for you and the team?
LV: The preparation starts a day before, so we have a walkthrough, talk about the opposition, watch some footage and then have a big team dinner. We have to go to sleep earlier, wake up earlier and always have a good breakfast before. And the most important thing is that we’re doing it all together.
RP: How does coach Mansur prep you guys even in the days before the match?
LV: One thing she does very effectively is how she brings the live game situations to the practices. So she always tries to put some pressure to make it easier for us to deal with it during the actual games. When you get to the situation in the game, it eases the tension so much.
