The Buckeyes volleyball team couldn’t believe that in 2024, the Ohio State volleyball program had to conclude its journey in the regular season. It couldn’t manage to earn the ticket for the postseason. The program, however, has seen several better outings in the volleyball season. In Spring 2021, the Ohio State volleyball program stood 4th in the Big Ten while reaching the Sweet 16 in the postseason. The next season, it had almost the same outing. In 2022, however, the program improved its run and reached the Elite 8 in the postseason. But in the last two seasons, it seems nothing has worked for them. 

In 2023, the Buckeyes ended in the 10th position in the Big Ten, with an overall record of 11-18. Last season, nothing was good! The overall record stood at 14-16, whereas Ohio State volleyball kept it at 7-7 in the home matches. The conference record seemed forgettable, a paltry 7-13. So what was most essential in such a situation to bring luck? A brief shake-up, right? 

That’s what the program is bringing in. No, head coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg remains at the helm. She is the one who led the program to the postseasons in 2020 (spring 2021), 2021, and 2022. However, she’ll soon be joined by someone with both playing and coaching experience. Here’s a hint: she is an ex-Nebraska Husker! 

Well, the official update posted by Ohio State Volleyball on January 13 claims that Fiona Fonoti is joining the Ohio State Buckeyes volleyball program. She will assist Oldenburg in her coaching role. Speaking about assisting, Fonoti has a chunk of record to assist, not only as a coaching staff but also as a player in Big Red. Want to explore? 

Fiona Fonoti played as a setter in her four-year collegiate career in Nebraska. And boy! How she played! Fonoti has the top position in the Huskers in single-season assists (1,653). She is also the leader in having single-match assists (63). Hold on! Her mammoth number makes her someone immortal in college history. How? With 4,824 assists, she’s the second topper in the all-time list of career assists in collegiate history. Those are her individual achievements. But what about her team’s performance? 

In her four-year stint with the Nebraska Huskers, Fonoti led the program to three Final Four finishes. Among those finishes, once in 1995, the Huskers claimed the national volleyball championship title. Apart from this, her resume of coaching is no short of a glorious book. 

Starting as an assistant varsity girls’ coach, Fiona’s performance helped her climb up the ladder and land in programs like Kansas State, West Virginia, and Iowa State. Under her tutelage, Kansas had a phenomenal run. In 2023, the program recorded five victories against the ranked opponents. Naturally, Fiona’s inclusion in the coaching lineup will bring a lot of experience. Factors like these have impressed coach Oldenburg.

In the welcoming note, the OSU alum said, “I am thrilled to have Fiona join our staff. Her competitive spirit and passion for the game will add much value to our program.” Fiona also showed her gratitude, saying, “I would like to thank The Ohio State University and head coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg for this amazing opportunity to be a part of her staff. I am excited to join The Ohio State University women’s volleyball program and get to work! Go Bucks!!” However, Fiona Fonoti isn’t the first change in the Ohio State volleyball program in recent days. 

Ohio State volleyball program stirs the pot and adds characters 

The consecutive unexpected results in the Ohio State volleyball program perhaps forced the authority to bring fresh faces to the program. Last year in December, the program included Skylar Lopas in the coaching team. Like Fiona Fonoti, he will also play an assistant coach’s role. However, before joining the Buckeyes, Lopas had been at Flagler College, serving as the head coach. During his time there, Lopas guided the program to win the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championships in 2022 and 2024. Before his stint at Flagler College, he played a prominent role in the Florida Gators. 

In the meantime, the program bid goodbye to some old faces in the coaching lineup. Enter Nicole Fawcett and Brian Wright. Both had been at the program for the last five years in the assistant coaching role. Among them, Wright has moved to the University of Toledo for the head coaching assignment. Ultimately, the authority has kept the equation stable, recruiting two faces, coming with heavy resumes. What is your take on these changes? Let us know.