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Spotlight on Former Athlete: Elina Salomaki – Volleyball 2003-05, Assistant Coach 2006Worldly-wise Salomaki leads idyllic volleyball life By Bruce Brown Athletic Network It has been said that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. That’s just fine with former UL Ragin’ Cajun Elina Salomaki, who is still playing top flight international volleyball some 10 years after her last match for the Cajuns. She’s with a team in Spain, the latest stop on a journey that has included action with the national team in her native Finland as well as an important stop in Germany. The lithe leaper is also living on Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, west of Morocco in the Atlantic Ocean. Doing what you love and living in an exotic setting with beaches and breezes … what’s not to love? “I have wanted to live in Spain,” said Salomaki, who has been on Tenerife since early September. “It’s a dream come true for me. I was happy to accept their offer. “I love doing this. I’ve achieved all I wanted, and even more.” Salomaki played four years for the national team of Finland – a crucial step for both volleyball and re-uniting with family – and then two years in Germany, “My coach (in Finland) taught me so much,” she said. “I found I didn’t feel old. I was young again. That gave me the confidence to play in Germany for two years. That was a turning point for me at age 30. “It’s a little bit different from college. That was nothing like the pressure you have in the pros. It’s a higher level. There’s more to learn. It inspired me. My second year, we won a bronze medal. “It was impossible to quit.” When Salomaki was growing up in Helsinki, she had early interest in ballroom dancing, track and field, and basketball, in addition to volleyball. At 18, wanderlust struck and she left for Australia for a couple of years. There she met future UL basketball player Chris Cameron, who encouraged Salomaki to re-kindle her interest in volleyball, and that led to her playing for UL from 2003-05. Despite struggling team results, Salomaki ranks first in rally-era career attempts (2,737) and No. 3 in career kills (898) at the school, with the No.3 (1,050) and No. 4 (1,037) season attempts in 2004 and 2005. Those days are miles away and a lifetime ago, although Salomaki keeps in touch. “I made the last homecoming (2014),” she said. “It’s always fun to come back, and I’ve had friends visit from Louisiana. I’ve also run into a lot of the players I played against in college.” If there was one regret, Salomaki could have used a year off at UL. “I was injured my senior year,” she said. “I’d had shoulder surgery, and it was a struggle to play. I probably should have red-shirted. There was a new team coming in the year after, with a lot of good young players. “We checked into it, but by then it was one or two games too late. You live and learn.” Salomaki stayed after that season, coaching both for the Cajuns and at Comeaux High, and that proved beneficial in the short and long terms. “I learned a lot about the game,” she said, “and since then I’ve always taken time to coach juniors.” She got a late start on the international stage in her sport, and has always had maturity as an ally. Now, on a roster that includes players from Argentina, Senegal, Ukraine and Spain, she has elder statesman status. “I’m mentally tougher now,” Salomaki said. “There is always more to learn. You learn to play a lot smarter and to give more for your teammates. The 19-year-olds are so young, with so much to learn. “The ones who really want to make it are receptive to advice. You can learn so much from everybody. Some mature at a different pace. “When I was 19, I had quit playing. There wasn’t anyone to show the way. I was so close to not ever playing again. It was important then to have the support of my family.” With two-a-day practices and a lengthy season that culminates with playoffs in April, a veteran like Salomaki knows how to survive. “It’s a big learning process,” she said. “I’ve gotten a lot better about eating right. I have to take care of my body. “I also have to take a break and remember to be normal. Wear normal clothes. I have a dog now, and it’s good to take him for walks and clear my mind. I try to find the healthy way.” Longevity in volleyball has led to personal and lifestyle choices along the way, but it is clear Salomaki relishes the challenges and opportunities. “As much as I love volleyball, the biggest thing I’ll remember is all the experiences I’ve had, the people I’ve met and the cultures I’ve experienced,” Salomaki said. “You think about how lucky you are. I’ve learned so much about myself and have grown as a person when faced with different situations.” Although she is still immersed in her sport, Salomaki has reached the stage where she ponders her next step in life. “Honestly, I have no idea what I’ll do next,” she said. “I really don’t know. I have a masters degree in psychology, so that’s an option. I’m so open to going anywhere. It’s more about lifestyle than anything else. “At one time, I was so concentrated on the national team that there wasn’t time for my boyfriend. I have a new balance now and there’s time for both volleyball and my fiance, although it’s not easy. “I’m not sacrificing as much as before, now that I’ve gotten where I want to be.” * * * * * * * * * Click here for photos of Elina and her 2005 Volleyball teammates. Click here for Elina’s AN profile. Click here for Elina with the 2006 Volleyball team.
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