Getting back on the court

Senior Allison Knoll’s flushed face went dull as soon as she hit the volleyball last spring. Pain shot from her shoulder to her fingertips. Her sweaty body chilled. She knew something was wrong, but she never thought it would come to this. She continued playing for the rest of the game but had a burning sensation in her arm the whole time.

A week after Knoll was still experiencing pain in her shoulder and had no choice but to go to the hospital. As soon as the bad news left the doctor’s lips, tears welled in her eyes. There was a chance she would never play volleyball again.

Everything had changed.

Knoll, who stands tall at 6”3’, has been on the varsity volleyball team since freshman year. During a club game last April, she tore her labrum and split her bicep tendon down the middle due to overuse of her arm. This makes it uncomfortable to even lift your arm above your head.

“By March, I didn’t swing at all and then finally I took one swing before spring break and I felt my bicep light up and pain was shooting down all the way to my middle finger,” Knoll said with a pained look on her face.

Her bicep tendon defrayed from the bone. Luckily, the surgeons found the tear in Knoll’s rotator cuff during surgery and were able to repair it.

“When I went to the surgeon after the MRI, I kinda had the gut feeling something was wrong,” Knoll said. ”When he told me, I held it together in the office and then when I got to the car, I just bawled to my mom knowing I would have to get surgery. It was scary.”

Knoll had a labrum and bicep repair surgery. Doctors had to remove the muscle and place it back in. Only four out of 10 people fully recover from this surgery. But Knoll’s happy-go-lucky vibe wasn’t going to bring her down.

“I think I told myself I need to be positive,” Knoll said. ¨It’s not easy. I have my good days and bad days, but I think coming in with a smile helps.¨

Knoll’s doctor told her from the start it was not likely for her to come back from this surgery. Knoll took this as a challenge and made sure to remind herself daily that she would be able to play college ball like she’d always planned.

Knoll’s mom, Sheryl, tried to keep her spirits up but also stay realistic.

“We kept reminding her volleyball was fun and all, but it wasn’t everything,” Sheryl said.

Despite the odds, Knoll remained positive. She went to all the practices and games of her teammates and cheered them on because it helped her focus on the future and the rest of her volleyball career to come.

“I think you can look at the glass half full or half empty,” Knoll said. “I mean if I were to be negative, what would I have to look forward to? What would I have to be happy about?”

Knoll’s peers noticed her positivity. She kept up a brave smile, only showing her other feelings to her close friends and family.

“She did a good job,” Knoll’s athletic trainer, Patrick Wykes said. “I think with any patient that has to go through that, it’s a long process. Anytime you have somebody who has that type of injury, you have to put it into perspective and understand that it’s a long journey but there are milestones you will hit like the first time you’re able to not have your hand in a sling or even the first time you wash your hair. These little things help people stay positive.”

It was often tough for Knoll to always look towards the bright side.

“It’s really hard and I think it takes a certain mindset because there are certain days where it is just rough and I don’t want to be there, especially just sitting on the side,” Knoll said.

But on Oct. 8. her wish came true. She was able to step back on the court, all smiles.

“We were thrilled,” Sheryl said. “Back in June, we didn’t think she would be able to play at all. It was a victory. A big celebration for the whole family.”

After the game, she went directly to the trainer’s office to ice and stretch out the muscles.

“They shortened the bicep tendon,” Knoll said. “I can definitely notice this. It feels weird coming back and I still have to ice my shoulder every night because of pain.”

This December, Knoll will graduate early to attend Central Michigan University. She’s been planning on this since freshman year. Last year, she finally committed to Central. She will be starting her first semester there in January and practicing with their volleyball team.

Knoll is excited for the opportunity but also recognizes how much she has grown as a person and as an athlete.

“It’s not the easy times in life that we get stronger,” Knoll said. ”I have learned to enjoy the journey and not be so focused on the final destination. Everyone struggles with something In their life. Rather an injury, family problems, happiness or whatever. We all carry baggage. It’s the empathy towards one another that we can also grow as people and learn to see others not from the outside but looking in. Through this I learned mental pain can be just as challenging. Things happen for a reason when you find the reasons. Find the positives in any situation. We all go through pain. But believe there is good that comes from the challenging times. Find the good.”