Marinduque State University setter Jamie Solina hopes to achieve her dream of playing in the PVL.
Big names naturally headline the inaugural 2024 PVL Draft class, but there are also those less heralded that are hoping to achieve their own dreams of playing in the country’s only professional volleyball league.
Among those is Jamie Solina, a 23-year-old setter from Marinduque State University who has quite the story to tell.
Despite not coming from prestigious volleyball programs like those in the NCAA or UAAP, Solina has chased her dream of playing in the PVL—a journey that has taken her from the province of Marinduque all the way to Manila.
Solina's volleyball journey began in elementary school when she played in various locations across Manila, including Quezon City and Caloocan.
However, family circumstances led her to spend two years in Marinduque, where her passion for the sport never waned.
Determined to pursue a professional career, she continued her senior high school education in Makati, frequently changing schools along the way.
“Since sa sobrang pagmamahal ko po sa sports, and gusto ko maging pro, nag-try out po ako, nag-senior high ako sa Makati. Paiba-iba ako ng [school],” Solina recounted after participating in the PVL Draft Combine at GameVille Ball Park in Mandaluyong City.
But while she's trying her luck to make the PVL now, the upcoming Draft was not Solina's first attempt to break into Manila's volleyball scene.
She initially aimed for a spot on a UAAP or NCAA team, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her plans.
Despite this setback, Solina maintained her fitness and skills through self-training in Marinduque, relying on past experiences from junior and senior high school.
“Wala akong nagawa since wala rin po ako gano’n kakilala. Kahit sa Marinduque pa rin po ako nag-college, tas walang women’s volleyball doon, to be honest, so puro ako self-training, four years,” Solina shared.
“Kung ano lang ‘yung naiwan sa aking experience nung junior high ako saka senior high na dalawang taon, ‘yun lang ‘yung ginamit ko all throughout nung college ko para maging kondisyon pa rin ‘yung katawan ko kahit wala po akong exposure sa malalaking competitions,” she added.
Standing at 5-foot-1, Solina's determination to improve led her to seek advice from Manila-based players, which she incorporated into her own workouts.
“Nagtatanong po ako sa ibang players na naiwan ko dito [sa Manila] kung ano pa ‘yung mga workouts nila, ginagawa ko lang po mag-isa sa Marinduque. So sariling sikap talaga,” said Solina.
Despite lacking the experience of her fellow PVL draft aspirants, many of whom hail from prestigious schools, Solina's resolve remains unshaken.
However, she admitted feeling nervous about continuing on with the PVL Draft after the list of applicants was released earlier in the month.
But lucky for Solina, her supporters in Marinduque, along with former coaches, urged her to continue and recognize the opportunity to realize a long-awaited dream.
“May part sa akin na pinaghihinaan po ako parang ngayon kasi siyempre ‘yung height [ko] at mga kasama ko from NCAA and UAAP,” Solina admitted. “Nag-doubt po talaga ako sa sarili ko na itutuloy ko pa ba? Kasi ‘yun ang lalakas talaga [ng mga kasama ko].”
“Sabi nila is ituloy ko pa rin kasi ito na ‘yung opportunity na matagal ko na daw hinihintay. Doon ko na daw ibuhos dito sa PVL Draft kahit ‘di ako ganun kakondisyon kasi wala naman akong coach, wala akong program na maayos. Sila ‘yung nag-push sa akin na ituloy ko pa rin,” she added.
As Solina awaits the PVL Draft on July 8 at Novotel, she hopes her journey will inspire the youth of Marinduque to pursue their dreams despite the odds.
“Kahit ano daw po mangyari andiyan pa rin sila sakin, ‘yun ‘yung magiging starting ng province namin sa Marinduque na tumapang ‘yung mga batang manlalaro na sumubok din po sa Maynila,” said Solina.