Player of the Week: December 5, 2022

Each week of the spring and fall seasons, one player who was originally reported as a recruit by AVSR Global is named Player of the Week for an exceptional performance.

Fall Week #12: Iva Popović

New Mexico Junior College.

NJCAA Division I.

Western Jr. College Athletic Conference.

Freshman, 5'10" Outside Hitter.

First reported by AVSR Global in 2020.

Home: Serbia/Kosovo.

See Popović’s bio at the NMJC website.

Last Week:

• Popović was named to the NJCAA Division I All-America First Team. Only two freshman were among the 12 players selected.
• Popović led New Mexico into the NJCAA top 10 ranking this season in just the third year NMJC has fielded a volleyball team.
• Popović ranked third nationally with 4.53 kills per set. She ranked third in points per set and fourth in total kills. She hit at .290 efficiency.
• NMJC won the Western Junior College conference title with Popović as the team’s top hitter and best receiver. She was named league MVP.
• The Thunderbirds (25-7) fell a step short of the NJCAA national tourney, losing in the regional final at New Mexico Military Institute.
• NMJC launched its volleyball team in 2019, posting a 17-18 record. It skipped the 2020-21 Covid-19 season, then rose to 21-11 last year.
• Popović took up volleyball at age 8 in her town of Leposavić in Kosovo. She moved at age 14 to Belgrade, Serbia, to join the OK Roda club.

Excerpts from 2020 AVSR Global report:

“A complete, elite player ready to go at six rotations in the top third of Division I. … Fast and dynamic. She’s a robust, versatile player. … Swing is high and fast. … Her tenacity as a competitor is special.”