Chatziefstratiadou Returns To Sharks Lineup After Back Injury

Erini Chatziefstratiadou is no longer antsy.

Despite being one of the top returning players on the Lady Sharks volleyball team the 6-foot-1 middle blocker had been roaming the sidelines the past few weeks instead of causing havoc on the court due to a hyperextended back kept her idle.

Chatziefstratiadou, who sustained a similar injury two years ago in Greece, had been unable to practice for several weeks because of the back issue.

She returned to the court on September 9 during the Lady Sharks season opening win 3-0 (25-13, 25-18 and 25-21) versus Eastern Florida State College. Chatziefstratiadou contributed nine points, seven attacks and five kills in the game.

Chatziefstratiadou’s hopes to continue the high skill level she showed as a freshman last season. Her breakout came against Daytona State College last September 28 when she tallied 27 total attacks, 18 points and 13 kills. She never looked back, averaging 14.79 total attacks, 10.52 points and 8.07 kills per contest to go with a .411 hitting percentage on the way to getting First-Team All-State honors.

Her coach Origenes “Kiko” Benoit is confident Chatziefstratiadou will return to top form.

“I know that [Erini’s] back has been hurting a little but she is getting better, and she is going to be one of the key players,” Benoit said.

Chatziefstratiadou is from Thessaloniki, Greece. She was named the best blocker in Greece in 2011 and 2012 and played for the Junior National Team in Greece. In addition, Chatziefstratiadou participated on the European National Team, which placed 5th and 8th in the Valcanic Games.

“I decided to come to the United States because in Greece the academic system is getting worse every year and so [is] the volleyball,” Chatziefstratiadou said. “I had the chance to come [to the United States] so I grabbed it.”

She spent last year learning to speak English and is currently majoring in business administration.

But Chatziefstratiadou’s main business this year is to make sure the Lady Sharks make Nationals.

“Erini is a great player, she is 19 but acts like she is 21. She is someone that is going to help us as a second year player, someone with experience and knows how to play in big games especially [since we went] to States [last year],” Benoit said. “This is a new year. She knows she has to work even harder to go to National’s, so she is going to help us and will be one of the top players.”