PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers lost junior middle blocker Rachel Jepsen for the time being last week, leaving the volleyball program in an interesting situation after spring practice.
Why did Rachel Jepsen leave Pitt Volleyball?
Jepsen announced on Instagram that she will be taking a break from her volleyball career to serve as a missionary for the LDS Church in Paris, France, for the next 18 months.
She is a Mormon and a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints. Mormons in their late teens or early 20s typically serve as missionaries. They work on proselytizing efforts in their communities in hopes of converting people to the Latter-day Saint Church, growing their faith, and providing community service and other humanitarian aid.
Many Mormons travel to various locations around the world for service. This usually involves studying at a missionary training center to learn the language essential to the job. Jepsen plans to learn French while in Paris and use it to engage in missionary work.
For Jepsen, that time period is the same as for other missionaries her age, since 18 months is the normal time for female missionaries in the LDS Church.
She is not the first Pitt player to do this, as former offensive lineman Trey Andersen also served as a missionary for two seasons, similar to how young men spend two years as a missionary. This forced him to reclassify from the 2019 class to the 2021 class.
What does her absence mean for Pitt volleyball?
Jepsen was one of four middle blockers on the roster during the spring season, along with redshirt junior Bre Kelly and freshmen Laila Jones and Bianca Garibaldi.
Kelly played in only four games last season before suffering a serious season-ending injury in early September. She wasn't 100% in the spring season, but the four months left before the start of the season will give her time to recover.
Pitt volleyball will enter the 2024 season with Kelly returning from injury and both Jones and Garibaldi having no experience at the collegiate level aside from the few months they played this spring.
All three of these players are great talents and will perform at a high level for the Panthers while in the program, but with Kelly returning in earnest from injury and Jones and Garibaldi It may take some time for the player to adapt to the best team. team.
Pitt played most of last season with just two middle blockers in Chiamaka Nwokolo and Emma Monks, and Kelly and Jepsen spent most of 2023 sidelined with injuries. Cat Flood, a serve specialist and outside hitter, played as an emergency middle blocker in various situations.
This plan helped them reach the Final Four three seasons in a row, but Pitt typically needs three “true” middle blockers, especially if it wants to win a national title.
The Panthers also have two middle blockers in their starting lineup and rotate them frequently, so having four middle blockers usually gives players some rest and can keep the team going in the event of an injury. can.
Where will pit volleyball go from here?
Jepsen will be out for 18 months, meaning his mission will end at the end of October 2025, more than half of next season. This means she will miss her next two seasons.
She is supposed to return to the program in 2026, but Pitt will look to use her absence to add to their roster.
Head coach Dan Fisher has never left the transfer portal and has brought in a number of talented players during his time at the helm, especially recently.
That includes Penn State middle blocker Selena Gray and Iowa right-side hitter Courtney Buzzerio, both of whom earned AVCA First Team All-American honors in 2022. He also brought in outside hitter Leketre Member Mene from Missouri, who earned AVCA Second Team All. -2021 American Honors.
He acquired Monks as a graduate transfer from Michigan State and Kelly from Florida State last offseason.
Kelly is a huge move for Fisher and the Pitt volleyball team, especially since he moved last June, which was later than the normal transfer window. He had previously coached her at the U.S. U-21 level, and it was her playing with pit setter Rachel Fairbanks that sealed her deal.
This transfer portal will likely serve as a place for Pitt volleyball players to be added for next season. It opened on May 1st, and anyone can apply, with a typical two-week recruitment period. Graduate students can transfer at any time.
A spot to play in Pitt volleyball ahead of next season is a lucrative one for a transfer, especially for a middle blocker looking for more time or trying to improve things in terms of wins.
A graduate transfer appears to be the most likely option for the Pitt volleyball player, but with Jepsen out for the next two seasons, maybe the junior could fill the void along with Kelly.
Pitt has a middle blocker/outside hitter in Abby Emch, a member of the Class of 2025, so it shouldn't shock anyone if they pivot to a more veteran option at middle blocker. .
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