Idjilov Maria

About

Maria Idjilov was born on June 6, 1999, in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, into a family with strong sporting traditions. Her older sister, Polina, had a professional volleyball career in France starting in 2013, and the passion for volleyball was also passed on to Maria, who chose to follow the same path. In her youth, she stood out for her talent and determination, preparing herself to reach an international level. Before moving to the United States, Maria Idjilov had a solid trajectory in the Republic of Moldova. She played at Panola College for two years, where she accumulated 2,263 attack passes and was recognized as the Conference Player of the Year for the setter position, receiving several distinctions such as All-Conference Second Team and Conference Scholar Athlete Award. These performances attracted the attention of American universities and opened the door for her future in the USA. At the University of South Florida (USF), Maria Idjilov has played as a setter for the women's volleyball team since 2020. In the 2020 season, she appeared in 14 matches and led the team with 481 assists, ranking seventh in the AAC conference in assists per set. She set remarkable personal records, including 55 assists in a single match, and was nominated for the All-Academic Team in 2020. Although 2021 was marked by an injury that caused her to miss the entire season, her career at USF demonstrated her qualities as a collegiate-level player in elite American competition.