11/9/2008
Fumo Rebounds In Senior Year
Reprinted with permission from The News Dispatch

Adam Parkhouse
The News-Dispatch

MUNCIE, Ind. - Marquette's senior libero Jenna Fumo won her fourth state championship Saturday, but none of the other three can touch this one.

A year ago, Marquette rolled into state with freshman Katie Clancy playing libero to help right the team's serve receive, which had struggled throughout the season.

That meant less playing time for Fumo, who started the season at that position.

"This is what I've been working for since state last year," said Fumo, whose stellar play Saturday drew rave reviews from her coach and most everyone along press row.

The 5-foot, 3-inch back-row specialist, whose family has been a part of Marquette's state finals success for the past eight seasons, recorded 17 digs and made just one serve receive error in the match, highlighting her team's stellar play on the back row.

"I worked so hard for it," Fumo said. "What I wanted to do was dominate on this court."

Late last season Marquette coach Troy Campbell was forced to make a difficult decision and change his lineup around to strengthen the team's defense. That meant moving Clancy to libero in place of Fumo.

"She's just a fantastic kid that worked so hard in the offseason and saw her deficiencies and worked hard to improve," Campbell said. "She thoroughly won the position. You can't have that kind of success happen to be a better kid."

The surname Fumo has been synonymous with Marquette's volleyball success for the last eight years. Jenna's sister, Nicole, won a pair of state championships during her time with the Blazers program (2003, 2004).

Of course that means the girls' parents, MaryAnn and David, both physicians, have been along for the ride with their daughters.

"They're such a tight-knit, close family," Campbell said of the Fumos. "MaryAnn and Dave have been active in the Marquette and Michigan City communities at large and it's been such a joy to be a part of their family to see the way that it's supposed to be done as far as a family atmosphere is concerned."

One of the reasons for Jenna's success, admittedly, has been practicing day in and day out with Marquette arsenal of lethal servers.

"When I'm practicing and passing, I think I'm passing aginst some of the beat servers in Class A," Fumo said.

Fitting, then, that in her senior year, Fumo also became one of Class A's finest.