The trio of WSU volleyball’s starting front of Magda Jehlárová, Pia Timmer and Iman Isanovic all share a special honor to start the 2023 season. All three were honored to the Pac-12 Preseason All-Conference Team.
“They are a huge part of the success we’re going for this year and what we are trying to accomplish. Those three, I think, are the core of the team,” head coach Jen Greeny said.
Jehlárová, fifth-year middle blocker from the Czech Republic, is the start and end of all conversations regarding this team and program for the past half-decade. Since joining the team, she became the 2019 AVCA National Freshman of the Year and has been a four-time All-Pac-12 honoree.
“Sometimes you don’t know what kind of an impact a play will have [to start]. Of course, she comes in and wins AVCA National Freshman of the Year and just didn’t stop, just really kept working hard and getting better,” Greeny said.
Last year, the Pac-12 honored Jehlárová as the Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Adding to her accolades, the AVCA named her to the All-American first-team, her third time being an All-American, but first time on the first-team.
The 2023 season is shaping up to be one where she will cement herself as one of the greatest players in program history stat-wise, as she enters with 959 kills on a .373 attack percentage, 193 digs, 600.0 total blocks, 117 solo blocks and 1,379.5 points.
Her first-team 2022 season was her best yet, having her best kill-per-set ratio (2.44), most kills (290), tied for most assists (11), second-most digs (70), second-most solo blocks (32), second-most block assists (144), second-most total blocks (176) and most points (420).
Pia Timmer lobs a soft attack against Montana defense in spring match, April 2 at Bohler Gym.
Not to be outshined, Timmer also enters her fifth year in 2023, a 2021 AVCA All-American honorable mention and three-time All-Pac-12 First Team member, she is not far from Jehlárová’s impact on the program the past half-decade.
Timmer is already one of the most dominant hitters in WSU history, already in the top 10 all-time in career kills, the 2023 season will see her climb up the rankings as the season progresses.
In 2022, she had a team-best 3.56 kills per set en route to 416 kills, bringing her career total to 1,283. She is no slouch defensively, with 38 total blocks in 2022 and 129 in her career.
Iman Isanovic prepares to serve a ball in her first time in WSU colors, April 2 at Bohler Gym.
Coming as the third preseason All-Pac-12 honoree is one of Arizona State’s premier players from last year as the transfer outside hitter from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Isanovic will offset the production loss with the graduation of Laura Jansen, as she comes in with a mighty arm.
Making the Pac-12 First Team in 2021, she barely missed a step in 2022. Putting up 421 kills with a season-high 21 against Washington, as well as adding 223 digs, she packs a powerful punch with tools to be a great all-around force for the Cougs.
“Great teammate, [she] wants to do well for this program,” Greeny said. “Seeing the way that she has invested in this program, I think it’s great.”
