For Iowa volleyball second-year Aleksandra “Sashka” Stojanovic, a season on the sidelines was just the beginning.
After redshirting her first year on campus, the Belgrade, Serbian-born Stojanovic opened the 2025-26 season with a burst of energy to lock down a key spot on the court for the Hawkeyes.
Like the center in basketball or the offensive tackle in football, volleyball’s middle hitter is an important position traditionally assigned to taller players. Stojanovic has merged experience with a 6-foot-3 frame to become a lethal blocker for Iowa.
“She’s really coachable, coming in from another country and learning the language and a different style of play,” head coach Jim Barnes told The Daily Iowan. “I train our middles, and she’s been great to coach.”
Barnes further praised Stojanovic’s determination, adding she perceives instruction as a challenge to improve and, more importantly, an opportunity to master a skill.
After a high school career concluded with a spot on the No. 8 club team in Serbia in 2024 as well as a state championship in 2022, Stojanovic found herself drawn to the U.S. because of the opportunity to continue playing at a higher level.
“In Europe in general, colleges just work differently,” Stojanovic said. “You can’t play for a college. They don’t have sports teams. The only way you can actually do what you love and go to college, get a degree, is [to] go to America.”
While the second-year loves her teammates and the culture, she was especially drawn to the commitment of Barnes and his coaching staff.
“I remember we talked about something and [Barnes] said that he has daughters and that he knows that we are someone’s daughters,” Stojanovic said. “That carries a lot of weight. Hopefully a lot of coaches think that way, but not everybody does. That’s something I really appreciate about the whole staff. That’s why I chose Iowa.”
Third-year and fellow middle hitter Hannah Whittingstall loves the energy Stojanovic brings to the team.
“She just gets so fired up whenever she gets these kills,” Whittingstall said. “We love it. She brings such a unique energy to our team, and she’s so crafty.”
Whittingstall hails from San Antonio, and while Iowa City is over 1,000 miles away from her hometown, the distance to Stojanovic’s home spans across the Atlantic. She said besides Stojanovic’s accent, she would have no idea her teammate is from so far away.
Whittingstall said it helps to have other international students on the team who are willing to help one another out.
“It’s kind of cool to see them all helping each other work through it and being together,” Whittingstall said. “But again, I feel like from day one she was very adaptive and very willing to learn anything and everything.”
In addition to her height, Stojanovic has worked hard since her arrival in Iowa City to grow physically stronger.
“Since she’s gotten here, she’s worked her tail off,” Barnes said. “She’s probably put on about 10-15 pounds of muscle. She trained like crazy to get ready for this year, and it’s all paying off because she’s more than ready to compete.”
Barnes said this hard work contributes to the second-year’s offensive prowess as an attacker and someone the team can depend on.
“She never gives up. Sashka always keeps the ball alive,” he said. “She’s just a relentless player, and the team absolutely rallies around her. They love seeing her play so well because they know how hard she’s worked.”
Stojanovic appreciates her responsibility and role on the court, knowing her preparation determines her mindset and as a result, her performance for the Hawkeyes.
“If I don’t do it in practice every day, I’m not going to be able to do it on the court confidently,” Stojanovic said. “I picked up the pace in practice, and I’m just more confident when game time comes.”
The Hawkeyes will play the Iowa State Cyclones Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. in Xtream Arena in Coralville. The team’s record currently sits at 7-2.