Back in Argentina, Herrera Pursues Olympic Dream

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State volleyball is back, but not with all the familiar faces. One of the Cyclones' best and most notable is absent this spring, looking to complete a journey that has become more convoluted but still has the same destination: Tokyo, Japan.

"I saw the bad side at first, but then I figured out the positive side of it," Candelaria Herrera said about the one-year delay of the 2020 Olympic Games. "I talked with my coaches at Iowa State and I began to figure out the positives. I would have more time to prepare and get better. I would then go into the Olympic Process as a better player and person."

It was weird seeing Iowa State line up without No. 17 in the middle, but what is another atypical thing happening in 2020-21? The Cyclones are playing regular season matches in February and March, both firsts in program history. While not having Herrera is not a first either, her reasoning for why she is not with ISU is.

After taking part in the fall portion of Iowa State's volleyball schedule, Herrera made the decision to return to Argentina following the season and semester and remain there throughout the spring to train with the Argentina Women's Volleyball Senior National Team in an effort to improve her chances to make the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan this summer.

Following the Olympic Games, Herrera will take advantage of the NCAA's decision to offer an extra year of eligibility to fall sports student-athletes and will return to the Cyclones for the Fall 2021 season while completing her degree in Kinesiology and Health.

"I do look forward to coming back to Iowa State and getting back to work with my team," Herrera said. "I am excited for what we can do in the Big 12."

It is not all practice and training for Herrera, though. Starting in February, Herrera has joined the Liga Argentina Femenina, her home country's women's volleyball league, while maintaining her amateur status. She is playing for Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, a club with a unique connection to the Iowa State program. When the Cyclones took their trip to South America in Summer 2019, ISU's first match against the Argentina National Team took place at a sold-out Gelp, the home gym of Gimnasia y Esgrima.

"My personal goal is to continue to improve in every aspect of my play," Herrera said. "I also want to take advantage of this situation that is out of my comfort zone not only as a player, but mentally to. For the team, our goal is to be among the top-three in the league."

For Herrera and Gimnasia, it has been so far so good. Phase 1 of the competition, taking place in her current "home" district of La Plata as Herrera and the Lobos (Wolves) finish third in the 16-team standings, going 6-1 and advancing to the 12-team Phase 2.

Last weekend, Herrera and Gimnasia y Esgrima travelled North to Cordoba for the second group phase, needing to be in the top-2 to advance. They did the job in style, going 3-0 with sweeps over Argentina Andalgala and Rowing Club, plus a 3-1 win over Atenas to win the group and advance to the playoff round.

Herrera and Gimnasia will remain in Buenos Airies and will head to Estadio Luis Conde in the Boca District for quarterfinal matches on March 30-31 against Estudiantes. Should they advance, they would play the winner of the Boca Juniors/Velez Sarsfield series in the semifinal round.

Once her season with the Lobos is completed, the focus will return to "Las Panteras" and the National Team, which she will join up with in April to resume training. While Argentina continues to finalize its schedule for the pre-Olympics, Herrera understands what is on the line in the coming months.

"It would mean a lot to play in the Olympics," Herrera, with 18 international appearances to her name for the Senior National Team, said. "There is a lot of pride in representing not only my country, but the people who helped me get there. It will mean that work and sacrifice has paid off."

Fortunately for Iowa State, Herrera still has plenty of time for the Cardinal and Gold, as she has been able to watch the Cyclones in action so far this spring.

"I have been able to follow the team, and it was really nice seeing them play again," Herrera noted. "Seeing them makes me miss each of them and the staff, but I am excited to be continuing to watch."

"It was hard to go through the pandemic with the same motivation every day," Herrera concluded. "But with the help of Iowa State and my family, it was a little bit easier to push myself. The goal of fighting for a spot on the Olympic team and getting back for another season with Iowa State kept me on track."