At the U, Freshman outside hitter Sonja Danilovic isn’t just carrying her family’s legacy — she’s creating one of her own.
As the daughter of former Miami Heat shooting guard Predrag “Saša” Danilovic and sports reporter Svetlana, athletics are in Sonja’s DNA.
Her siblings felt the calling too. Her sister Olga, 24, plays professional tennis and her brother Vuk, 17, plays for the Serbian national basketball team, both following in their father’s footsteps.
But while many expected Sonja to take after her father and follow him to the three-point line, the 19-year-old wanted something that belonged entirely to her.
From the moment she first picked up a volleyball and stepped onto the court, the answer was clear.
Volleyball gave her more than the competition she craved. It offered camaraderie, technical challenge and satiated her constant thirst for improvement.
By age 13, she was representing Serbia in the Balkan, European and World Championships. Each tournament was about more than the medals shining around her neck: playing for her home country brings with it great honor, pride, and above all else, responsibility.
“When you’re standing under your flag, singing your anthem — it’s a different kind of fight,” she said.
“It’s personal.”
But that weight, combined with the expectations that come with her family name, brings enormous pressure.
Yet, Danilovic insists that pressure fuels her, as she dreams of playing under Serbia’s banner at the Olympics. Until then, each match is a chance to sharpen her skills, honor her roots, and build her own name in the sport she loves.
“When you think of me, you think of volleyball. It’s who I am,” she said. “But when you think of volleyball, you don’t think ‘Sonja Danilovic.’ I want that to change. I want to be the best.”
Danilovic’s connection to Miami is long standing.
Her parents held a deep admiration for the time they spent with Sonja’s father playing here. Danilovic had visited Miami twice before, and now it’s time for her to stay and leave her own mark on the city.
Back home in Serbia, her family’s success casts a long shadow. Choosing Miami wasn’t just about volleyball — it was about finding space to grow into herself, as an athlete and as a person.
“I feel so grateful. I wake up every day in Miami because of my hard work. And I’m doing what I love,” she said. “I could be back in Belgrade, but I’d rather be here.”
With it being her first time away from home, over 5,000 miles from her life in Serbia, Danilovic is adjusting to life as an athlete, a freshman and an international student. Everything is new, from the size of the ball to the food that she eats. Embracing such change is a challenge, but she has a formidable support system in her corner.
She credits her family, coaches, teammates and dear friend Georgia Shayesteh, a sophomore cheerleader at the U.
“I wouldn’t be able to do this without them,” Danilovic said.
The move was certainly bold. She had to leave her family, friends, and the comfort of familiarity behind. But that was part of the draw.
“It’s all new, and that’s scary,” Danilovic admitted. “But if I had stayed home and never taken these opportunities, I’d never forgive myself.”
“I could never imagine myself being okay with giving up,” she said. And it’s impossible to not believe her.
In truth, her story is just beginning. This time, Danilovic won’t just remind us of basketball—it will be synonymous with volleyball too.
