By Tony Burns
Sports Editor
West Side Christian senior-to-be Anna Williams tore her ACL during a volleyball game in September, just a few weeks after committing to play at the University of Central Arkansas. Last week’s UCA Elite Volleyball Camp in Conway was Williams’ first time back on the court since the injury.
“The first day, I did decent. I didn’t really have any trouble jumping or moving or doing any kind of footwork,” she said. “But, the second day in the morning, I was really sore because I haven’t really done any conditioning. I’ve only done weightlifting and physical therapy. So, the second day I was extremely sore. I had trouble jumping and so I kept hitting the ball into the net, which is really frustrating. But, in the evening session that we did, I ended up doing a lot better.”
The three-day camp, held July 9-11, included UCA’s volleyball recruits for 2019 and prospects for 2020. Though she wasn’t 100 percent healthy, Williams said the coaches were supportive.
“They were really understanding. They pulled me aside and told me they could tell I was frustrated and to not worry and to just do my best. They were real understanding,” said Williams, who had surgery on Oct. 2.
The 6-foot-1 setter wasn’t cleared for action by the doctor until July, a bit later than originally projected. She admitted the grueling rehabilitation didn’t go as smoothly as she had hoped.
“I’m usually a pretty motivated person. But, I haven’t really been very motivated at all throughout this whole journey. So, to make myself go to the gym and do the protocol I’m supposed to do has been the hardest thing, honestly,” Williams said.
“I definitely slacked. I slacked, maybe, a month or two. Then, I evenutally got back into the routine.”
Slacked? On her rehab?
“I know. I know,” she said. “It was hard.”
Originally, her doctor set a time table of six-to-eight months for Williams to return to action. It ended up being closer to 10 months out of action.
Fortunately for Williams, the setback didn’t appear to be too damaging. When asked if she could return to her form 100 percent, she answered quickly, “Yes, definitely. The coaches said I was doing a lot better than they would’ve thought I was doing.
“I say I slacked. But, really, I started off really, really good. Then, I slacked a month or two. After that, I got back motivated. But, there was a time period where I just didn’t want to get out of bed.”
The rehabilitation from ACL surgery is physically challenging. But, often the mental hurdle of getting back on the court is just as difficult.
“I was pretty nervous,” she said. “But, once I got out there and started playing, I was like, ‘I can actually, probably, do this.’ It wasn’t too bad.”
The lefthander said, in additon to setter, UCA coaches also watched her play as a right-side hitter. She believed she will be ready to play when the Lady Warriors participate in a team camp later this month. Other than that, Williams hopes to spend the rest of the summer doing rehab and conditioning.
“My quad muscle is almost as big as the other quad muscle. So, that’s what I’m focusing on, right now. And, my hamstrings. I’m trying to get my hamstring and quad strength all the way back,” she said. As far as the conditioning, “I’d say I’m in decent shape. I could be in better shape, right now.”