By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

A coach can teach a player the fundamentals of the game.

They can improve techniques.

They can strategize and gameplan.

What they can’t do is coach passion.

But they can certainly identify it in their players within a split-second.

For players like Crestwood volleyball sophomore Jackie Blasiole, there is so much passion that it overflows.

There is no other way to describe what her 2024 season has become.

Truth is, she is a talented enough player that she was destined for a memorable season regardless, but everything took an interesting turn on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

On that night, the Red Devils played at Mogadore.

In a back-and-forth match, Blasiole came in from the right side to attack the ball and when she landed, she fell to the ground in pain.

“The trainer came out to check on Jackie,” veteran Crestwood coach Wanda Hoffman said. “She said she was OK … and Jackie said she was good to go.”

Blasiole could not fight the competitor inside herself.

One play later, it was clear that maybe the injury was a little more serious.

“Maddie (Dustman), one of her teammates, said, ‘Jackie isn’t OK’,” Hoffman said. “The coaching staff made some quick decisions and got Jackie out of the game. The trainer checked on her some more. Jackie showed us that she could jog down and back with no trouble and she wanted to go back into the match. I wasn’t going to put her in without the consent of her parents and the trainer.”

Blasiole attempted, once again, to play. Again, she couldn’t fight the competitor inside herself.

One play later, she finally subsided.

“She came over with tears in her eyes and said she couldn’t do it,” Hoffman said. “My heart broke for her.”

Over the next several days, and a series of appointments, it was identified that Blasiole had torn the ACL in her left knee and surgery was scheduled for Sept. 17.

“We were all crushed, but wanted what was best for Jackie and her future. She still has two more years and when I told her that, she said, ‘but I won’t be able to play with these seven seniors’,” Hoffman said. “Jackie would still come to practices, but with strict orders not to do anything. That wasn’t easy of her because of her spirit and hunger to play a sport that she enjoys. I would catch her trying to sneak into drills.”

Blasiole wanted to play and through a series of conversations, eventually wore down her parents. After meeting with her doctor — and with her parents approval — Blasiole communicated to Hoffman that she was going to play the rest of the season, despite the torn ACL, using an oversized brace and her knee taped for support.

“I was nervous, but I knew it could be done,” said Hoffman, referencing back to seeing a Middlefield Cardinal player battling through the same thing a couple years prior.

Blasiole missed two matches and returned on Sept. 3 at home against Field. The Red Devils won in three and Hoffman said she could sense that Blasiole was nervous about jumping and landing.

“She still played well. She was slower in the back row, but gave it her all. I could understand all of her insecurities,” Hoffman said.

From that point, the team and Blasiole have settled back in together. The sophomore phenom has more confidence in her jumps and is “back to normal” in the back row, according to Hoffman, having now played 15 games with her torn ACL injury.

“I’m very impressed with Jackie’s desire and determination to continue to play volleyball and cheer,” Hoffman said. “She comes into the gym everyday with a smile on her face ready to play. She is always positive and such a hard worker. The relationship and bond she has with her teammates is such a pleasure to be a part of. This is a special group to be with. I can totally understand why Jackie didn’t want to miss out on this season and playing with these seven seniors.”