Completing the trifecta, WSU volleyball announced Wednesday via Twitter the addition of the third new player for the 2023 season, as well as the second new middle blocker Lucie Blažková, a Czech Republic native, aids the depth issue the Cougs have dealt with in the position the last two seasons. 

Blažková played for VK Dukla Liberec from 2021–23, and the 19-year-old is the second under-20 player the Cougs have added this week. Alongside Tuesday’s announced addition of Emma Barbero, she leads the youthful charge that will take over WSU in years to come. 

The middle blocker has won several tournaments while playing in her home country, she won two league championships and a European Golden League title. 

Joining the Cougs, Blažková is following in the footsteps of another great middle blocker from the Czech Republic. Magda Jehlárová, one of the most decorated players in program history, will look to mentor the young player in her final year at WSU and aid her in taking over her role once she moves on.

Jehlárová is a four-time All-Pac-12 Honoree, three-time AVCA All-American and Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, among several other accolades during her time at WSU. Blažková will look to learn under the living Cougar legend over the course of the 2023 season and step into her shoes following her departure. 

Being the third addition of the week, the team is beginning to fix issues in their biggest weakness from the 2021 and 2022 seasons: a lack of depth when injuries began hampering the team. They also are beginning to strengthen the team for years to come, as five key members are seeing 2023 be their last season. 

After the departure of 2022 starters Jehlárová, Pia Timmer, Karly Basham, along with Julia Norville and Weronika Wojdyla following the end of the upcoming season, the team will look much different. 

However, with the additions of young players such as Blažková and Barbero, the loss will hopefully be relatively offset.