Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
Dig R Knights: Inna Balyko
Oct 13 | Women's Volleyball
While on the plane about to take off to the United States to begin her journey as a Scarlet Knight from Gubkinsky, Russia two years ago, the following lyrics from the song "Medicine" by Daughter came through rising junior Inna Balyko's headphones.
You've got a second chance
You could go home
While used to traveling, Balyko was a nervous flyer and found herself sweating before takeoff heading to a new country, a new school, a new team and new teammates.
"When I heard this line, I forgot about my flight and I relaxed," the music lover said.
While Balyko misses her family and the Russian nature, New Jersey and Rutgers has become home.
"From the first day that I came to the United States, I felt like this is my place," she explained. "I travel a lot and have been to a lot of countries with my national team, but I never felt this way in any country. When I came here, I felt so calm and peaceful that I felt like 'yes, this is my place'."
Now, Balyko is a veteran returning setter on head coach Caitlin Schweihofer's first Rutgers team inheriting a Scarlet Knight already entrenched in the Rutgers record book. In two years "On The Banks" Balyko is already seventh all-time in assists and 52 shy of reaching the 2,000 career assist mark. The assist records continue with her name featured twice on the single season assist leaders list and setting a new program record for assists in a three-match set with 47 against Howard in 2018. Balyko also has the distinction of being the squad's first-ever Big Ten Weekly Award winner earning Freshman Player of the Week behind 10.21 assists and 14 blocks in three victories at the Lehigh and Lafayette Crosstown Tournament.
"I remember my first coach told me that he saw me as a very promising setter," Balyko remembered of becoming her position. "At that time I had very good technical skills and I was already pretty tall."
While it's this Scarlet Knights' job to help to run the team's offense thru the gauntlet of playing top 25 teams night in and night out in the Big Ten, Balyko also recognizes how being a veteran is just as important in helping Rutgers grow.
"I also play an important roll on the team because we have to be leaders," she mentions of the returning Scarlet Knights. "You have to build trustworthy connections with your teammates and coaches. I am also the type of person who is trying to help with understanding of the game."
Balyko and her returning teammates have had a taste of winning in the Big Ten over the last year and it's a feeling they want to continue.
Last season, Balyko collected a new career-high in assists with 52 in a five-set win at home over Northwestern to go along with 11 digs. Two games later, her double-double streak continued in a straight-set road victory over Iowa – the first ever for the Scarlet Knights – with 32 assists and a team-high 15 digs.
"We proved to ourselves that we can do it," she said equating the feeling of victory with how she felt after playing for her home country at the European Championships.
"It was my first serious competition," she recalled in receiving the gold medal for Russia. "After we won, I remember having such strong emotions that I never had before because I realized all the sacrifices that I made in my life – free time, time with my family - all of this hard work was working. I just felt like I was proud of myself and my team and my coaches."
Balyko not only believes in the hard work her fellow Scarlet Knights are putting into practice, but that the new staff also echoes the same sentiment.
"They are always willing to help everybody," she explained. "Not every coach can make such an environment. When you're not afraid to make a mistake, when you're not afraid to ask them to explain something again or you're not afraid that they're going judge you, it makes for a great environment and excited to practice."
"I think that their goals for me and for the team are the same. Every coach on our team wants to help us to improve our volleyball skills and improve this program, so we can have a really great experience as athletes and college students."
A few lines later in the song Balyko found comfort in were:
You could still be
What you want to
"As for me," the psychology and journalism/media studies double major continued, "I want to be productive, but also enjoy my experience."
For previous stories in the Rutgers Volleyball's Dig R Knights Series:
You've got a second chance
You could go home
While used to traveling, Balyko was a nervous flyer and found herself sweating before takeoff heading to a new country, a new school, a new team and new teammates.
"When I heard this line, I forgot about my flight and I relaxed," the music lover said.
|
with teammates at the European Championships |
"From the first day that I came to the United States, I felt like this is my place," she explained. "I travel a lot and have been to a lot of countries with my national team, but I never felt this way in any country. When I came here, I felt so calm and peaceful that I felt like 'yes, this is my place'."
Now, Balyko is a veteran returning setter on head coach Caitlin Schweihofer's first Rutgers team inheriting a Scarlet Knight already entrenched in the Rutgers record book. In two years "On The Banks" Balyko is already seventh all-time in assists and 52 shy of reaching the 2,000 career assist mark. The assist records continue with her name featured twice on the single season assist leaders list and setting a new program record for assists in a three-match set with 47 against Howard in 2018. Balyko also has the distinction of being the squad's first-ever Big Ten Weekly Award winner earning Freshman Player of the Week behind 10.21 assists and 14 blocks in three victories at the Lehigh and Lafayette Crosstown Tournament.
"I remember my first coach told me that he saw me as a very promising setter," Balyko remembered of becoming her position. "At that time I had very good technical skills and I was already pretty tall."
While it's this Scarlet Knights' job to help to run the team's offense thru the gauntlet of playing top 25 teams night in and night out in the Big Ten, Balyko also recognizes how being a veteran is just as important in helping Rutgers grow.
"I also play an important roll on the team because we have to be leaders," she mentions of the returning Scarlet Knights. "You have to build trustworthy connections with your teammates and coaches. I am also the type of person who is trying to help with understanding of the game."
Balyko and her returning teammates have had a taste of winning in the Big Ten over the last year and it's a feeling they want to continue.
Last season, Balyko collected a new career-high in assists with 52 in a five-set win at home over Northwestern to go along with 11 digs. Two games later, her double-double streak continued in a straight-set road victory over Iowa – the first ever for the Scarlet Knights – with 32 assists and a team-high 15 digs.
"We proved to ourselves that we can do it," she said equating the feeling of victory with how she felt after playing for her home country at the European Championships.
"It was my first serious competition," she recalled in receiving the gold medal for Russia. "After we won, I remember having such strong emotions that I never had before because I realized all the sacrifices that I made in my life – free time, time with my family - all of this hard work was working. I just felt like I was proud of myself and my team and my coaches."
Balyko not only believes in the hard work her fellow Scarlet Knights are putting into practice, but that the new staff also echoes the same sentiment.
"They are always willing to help everybody," she explained. "Not every coach can make such an environment. When you're not afraid to make a mistake, when you're not afraid to ask them to explain something again or you're not afraid that they're going judge you, it makes for a great environment and excited to practice."
"I think that their goals for me and for the team are the same. Every coach on our team wants to help us to improve our volleyball skills and improve this program, so we can have a really great experience as athletes and college students."
A few lines later in the song Balyko found comfort in were:
You could still be
What you want to
"As for me," the psychology and journalism/media studies double major continued, "I want to be productive, but also enjoy my experience."
For previous stories in the Rutgers Volleyball's Dig R Knights Series:
- Senior right side hitter - Beka Kojadinovic
- Senior right side hitter - Kamila Cieslik
- Junior outside hitter - Anastasiia Maksimova
- Senior outside hitter - Yana Kamshilina
- RU -
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