The 2014 season has been one of note for Georgia State volleyball. The Panthers currently stand at sixth place in the Sun Belt which would qualify them for the conference tournament this November in San Marcos, Texas. A huge reason for the team’s success has been junior middle blocker and right side hitter Kitan Ajanaku.
“It’s been a really exciting season,” Ajanaku said. “We are in the running to go to the conference tournament, and last year it wasn’t even a possibility for us really at this point in the season. So it’s really exciting that our destiny and our future is really in our own hands.”
Back in Oklahoma
Ajanaku played her high school volleyball at Bishop Kelley High in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was listed as a Top 150 recruit by Prep Volleyball and led her team to four consecutive state championships. She also played basketball and competed in the high jump while at Bishop Kelley.
“The difference between [Georgia State] and Oklahoma, really, is we’re in a big city. I grew up in the suburbs, so it was more of a small town. But, I love it here. It’s exciting. There’s so much diversity,” Ajanaku said.
Ajanaku as a Panther
After a successful high school volleyball campaign, Ajanaku began her collegiate career at Long Beach State in California, a school that has won five national championships and has appeared in 24 straight NCAA tournaments. She redshirted in 2011 and only played in 15 sets in 2012.
Her first year with the Panthers was in 2013 and she saw that Georgia State volleyball could evolve into something big.
“[Georgia State] is a lot newer program that’s growing. It’ll be exciting to look back, honestly, 10 years from now, and see a lot of players that I’ve played with or players that come after that as All-Americans and to have that history here and be part of the beginning of it,” Ajanaku said. “It’s not as much of a historical program, but it’s more of a growing program which is exciting.”
Ajanaku’s 2014 season
This season for Georgia State, Ajanaku has compiled 174 kills which ranks at third on the team behind fellow juniors Deidra Bohannon and Eliza Zachary (352 and 308 kills for the athletes respectively). She is also third on the team in points scored with 85 as well as second in hitting percentage at .274, right behind Zachary’s .335.
“To have as many kills as she has and a high hitting percentage, she is definitely learning the game of volleyball and executing at a high level,” Head Coach Sally Polhamus said. “When you have two middle blockers [Ajanaku and Zachary] that are top three point scorers, everyone knows where that ball is going to go on a perfect pass.”
Ajanaku credits her productivity on the court to attending practice and improving her game.
“Every day, I go to practice and I really try to get better,” Ajanaku said. “As a student athlete, you’re supposed to be thinking about school and, in my case, volleyball. But I can’t lie that volleyball takes up a lot more of my mind. I’m always so excited to get in the gym and play for my teammates. We all go to practice every day to get better.”
The Panthers’ junior middle blocker has also provided a huge defensive presence with 44 blocks this year.
“She has become a stronger blocker throughout the fall season,” Polhamus said.
Leading through encouragement
As a junior, Ajanaku says she also feels an added responsibility to be a leader by example.
“I’m one of the older ones on the team, so I do feel the responsibility to provide the amount of points that I’m supposed to provide for the team and lead the team,” Ajanaku said.
In addition to leading by example, Ajanaku is also a vocal leader for the team in its matches. Even when on the bench, Ajanaku can be seen yelling words of encouragement to her Panthers teammates, regardless of whether they are leading or trailing in a set or in a match.
“She is definitely a passionate leader,” Polhamus said. “She is consistent and she is very inspiring to her teammates. She works hard to get to know her teammates and how to communicate with all of them.”
Pushing towards the tournament
Her vocal leadership and consistent play will be much-needed attributes for Georgia State as the team fights its way toward a Sun Belt tournament berth.
“To make the tournament, we definitely need to keep winning,” Ajanaku said. “That’s going to help us a lot with seeding in the tournament. Once we get to the tournament, we’re looking to win the tournament championship and go to the NCAA tournament.”
Ajanaku says reaching the NCAA tournament would be a major step forward for the volleyball program.
“I think it’s been a while since Georgia State volleyball has been to the NCAA tournament,” Ajanaku said. “It would be awesome to start that trend and that tradition and have that be our vision for the future of Georgia State.”
