From Belgrade to El Paso: A successful international connection for UTEP volleyball

[administrator]

UTEP Volleyball starts its games with Marty Robbins singing “Out in the West Texas town of El Paso,” followed by the college fight song as the players take to the court. Among them are two players from the northern Serbian city of Belgrade.

The two outside hitters, Sara Pustahija and Ema Uskokovic have become critical players for the UTEP Miners. They were recruited by Nikola Petrovic, an assistant coach and international recruiting coordinator. He is also a native of Serbia.

Petrovic joined the UTEP volleyball program in 2019. Uskokovic, was one of his first recruits for UTEP Volleyball. She was a familiar face to Petrovic long before connecting in El Paso.

“I know Emma for, I think over ten years, I follow her development for long time because, my parents and her parents and we have like long connection. My best friend was coaching her back home. Anytime when I would go and watch my friend coach and everything I would see them play,” Petrovic said.

For Ema Uskokovic, the decision to join UTEP was an easy one.

“I’ve known Coach Nick for I don’t even know how many years now, he kind of recruited me, asked me if I wanted to come here, and I said yes,” said Uskokovic.

In Serbia, Uskokovic won a gold medal with the Serbian U17 National Team at the 2018 Balkan Championships.

Uskokovic was named to the C-USA All-rookie Team in her first year, 2021. Uskokovic did not play much in 2023 due to injury, but she has participated in every game this season in 2024.

Uskokovic, a redshirt junior at UTEP, is seeing success on the court as a starter this year and is excited about an additional year of play.

Following closely behind is Pustahija, who also credits Petrovic with her decision to play for UTEP.

“He came to Serbia one, I think, spring that we met over there, so he kind of explained to me what, how is the work here, practicing and everything. So, I just committed shortly after we met in Serbia,” said Pustahija.

Before moving to UTEP, Pustahija earned two Serbian Championship silver medals, the U17 Balkan Championship and the International City Tournament, and gold and silver in the Belgrade Championship.

Pustahija was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team in 2022 and broke the all-time service aces record in a single season with 55 aces. She started 28 games in her first year. In 2023, Pustahija posted double-digit kills twice, and started 11 matches before suffering a season-ending injury.

Pustahija, a junior, has been experiencing success on the court as a starter.

A home away from home

While being recruited just a year apart, Uskokovic and Pustahija feel that El Paso has become a second home. Despite being more than 6,000 miles from home, the Serbian players have found comfort in the similarities between their homeland and the warm, and welcoming community of the border city.

“I feel like El Paso City like that is just, you know, kind of different than all of the other American cities cause it’s on the border, and I actually love the culture, mixed of the Mexican and American culture,” said Pustahija.

“I would say our people are very similar to the our culture is similar to the Mexican culture, so I think that’s why we fit in here so well,” said Uskokovic.

Pustahija compares her hometown, Belgrade, to El Paso’s sense of community.

“We’re really nice and open to other people. I feel like foreigns come to Serbia, especially to our hometown, Belgrade; I feel like they’re really welcome,” said Pustahija.

Recruiting abroad

Coach Petrovic’s recruitment of international players has tried to extend beyond Serbia.

“We are trying to recruit the best recruits that we can find, best athletes, best volleyball players. So, in that moment, those were best players that we had in that recruiting class, for future, we don’t know, are we going to recruit kids from Serbia or from Egypt or from Turkey or from United States,” Petrovic said.

The Serbian duo were the best recruit from their respective class and have played a fundamental role in the team’s success, especially this 2024 season.

The UTEP Miners were the first NCAA D1 volleyball program to win 20 games this season. For the first time in program history, the team went to the 2024 NCAA Division I women’s volleyball tournament.

As UTEP Volleyball expands its program, the Serbian bond and experiences that unite Petrovic, Uskokovic, and Pustahija are laying the groundwork for future international recruit success and add to the cultural diversity of UTEP’s athletic community.

https://borderzine.com/2024/12/from-belgrade-to-el-paso-a-successful-international-connection-for-utep-volleyball/