The FIU beach volleyball team is less than 60 days away from the start of the 2016 regular season. Each week leading up to the season opener on March 4, a different beach player will be featured in this weekly series. This week, Sand Panthers rings in the New Year with senior Gloria Levorin.
 
Gloria is well known at FIU for her contributions to the indoor volleyball team. In November, Levorin finished her four-year career with the team. The middle blocker goes down in FIU history as one of the very best. Her 39 solo blocks were enough to crack the top-10 all-time in school history this season. Gloria also ranks 4th all-time in Panther history in block assists with 281. She has played in 115 of 118 matches during her time at FIU.
 
The seasoned veteran now becomes a rookie. Gloria will participate in the first beach volleyball season of her career beginning this March. Although, Levorin is technically a rookie on the sand, she has been practicing and conditioning with the beach players for almost two years now. Head coach Rita Buck-Crockett has expressed her desire to have Gloria play on the beach in the past. Now, the timing is right and Gloria is in prime position to emerge as a starter for the beach squad.
 
"I don't feel like a new player at all," said Levorin.
 
Being familiar with most of the team and having confidence in her fundamentals, Gloria is confident about the transition. She is also comfortable about her role, whatever it may be. As one of the oldest players on the team and least experienced, Gloria falls into a strange category, or so it may seem.
 
"Leadership is not about entitlement or self-belief," she answered. "It is about what others see in you. I will do my job, follow team rules, and commit to the team goal. This is what you expect from an 'old' player. It would be an amazing feeling if my teammates will see a leader in me, but right now I am not worried about it."
 
Gloria is not intimidated by the fact that the beach team has finished the last two seasons ranked top-five nationally.
 
"I don't feel pressure. The sand team is a strong team. It is not about the individuals," said Levorin. "I am grateful and excited to be given this opportunity."
 
Levorin may be humble, but she has caught the eyes of the coaching staff during off-season training. Regardless of how much attention she draws away from herself and onto her teammates, it still does not take away from the fact that she is talented enough to play and impact this team in more ways than one. Levorin admitted that the team will most likely make another appearance at the National Championship Tournament with or without her. Levorin undervalues her potential and may prove to be a crucial player in the Panther's quest for a National Title.
 
FIU is notorious for recruiting hybrid players for the beach. Gloria, standing 6-foot-2, does not exactly qualify. But with her stellar fundamentals and quick reflexes, Levorin doesn't play like a 'big'. She in fact, is as much a hybrid as anyone else on the team. Being one of the best blockers in school history for indoor volleyball, Gloria plans on being just as much a defensive threat in the sand.
 
Gloria fits right in academically, as well. Levorin received her Bachelor's degree in Management last summer, as only a junior. She is now pursuing her Master's in Finance. Gloria can be found in the Mathematics department on campus where she has served as a math and statistics tutor for the last three years. Upon her graduation, Gloria plans to go back home to Italy where she hopes to play professionally. Gloria was born in Padova, but lives in a small town called Saccolongo in the suburbs of Padova. Levorin hopes to have the opportunity to play volleyball for her city in the near future.
 
"After that, I would like to find a job in the finance world and give my 100% to my future career," Levorin stated.
 
Levorin, as expected, is a true Italian when it comes to food. She considers it the thing she is most passionate about. Cooking, finding new restaurants, and of course eating are hobbies of Gloria. She admitted it wouldn't be the best idea for a guy to take her out to eat.
 
"I eat a lot," she admitted. "It's a good thing I have practice every day."
 
Back home, Gloria lives on a small farm. She was happy to share that she has a pair of horses, three cows, a bunch of chickens, and a donkey. Gloria enjoys the farm and the animals. She explained that every time she visits home, she is re-energized and more focused. Now, back from Italy, Levorin is ready for the new challenge ahead and is ready to make the most of the opportunity.
 
Each week on Sand Panthers, featured players are asked one random question, posed by the previous Panther to appear on the weekly series. Likewise, they pose a question, which is to be answered by the next player featured on Sand Panthers (without knowing who it is). Last week, junior Katie Hogan asked: What is the most important value you have that you look for in others?
 
Here's what Gloria had to say: "A good heart. Nobody is perfect, but when I can see that you have good intentions and a good heart behind your actions, I will forgive and accept any of your flaws."
 
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