Mackenzie Kitchel had her setback. Now she’s ready for her comeback.
An outside hitter on the Ball State women’s volleyball team, Kitchel played in 24 matches last season, earning five starts.
Then, in the first set of an Oct. 25 match against Bowling Green, Kitchel suffered a torn ACL.
“I guess my initial reaction was, ‘Oh, crap. I’m done,’” Kitchel said.
Though the team tried to stay optimistic that Kitchel could return at some point during the year, she said deep down she knew her season was likely over.
Her instinct was correct.
A transfer from Cincinnati, Ohio, Kitchel significantly contributed during her first year at Ball State.
As a redshirt sophomore, she registered 155 kills, had a 2.35 kills per set average and totaled 26 blocks.
While the reserves performed well in Kitchel’s absence, head coach Steve Shondell understood how big an impact her loss would have.
“She was really coming into her own as the season progressed and had moved into our lineup as our [number one] outside hitter,” he said. “She was really becoming an impact player for us.”
Instead of dwelling on her injury, Kitchel quickly went to work.
She had surgery to repair her torn ligament, soon leaving Ball State to enter rehab and begin training.
“She rehabbed with [Ball State assistant athletic director] Sindra Schueler all last spring, and left campus in April touching 9’7” with her vertical,” Shondell said. “She reported first day of practice touching 9’11”.”
Recovering from an ACL tear takes a great deal of rehab if an athlete will return to his or her former physical strength.
Kitchel admits the rehab process was long and frustrating, but that she was motivated by a large support group, including family and teammates.
Throughout the spring and summer, she trained for this season. Kitchel knew she had reached the final stages of her rehab process in time for this season.
“We got more into lifting and cardio and agility kind of stuff,” she said. “And that’s the main stuff that really helps me do what [head coach Shondell] said I’ve done.”
While preparing for this season, Shondell said that Kitchel has looked good for the most part. They are still trying to continually refine her game as well as her physicality before the first match.
“Because of how hard I had to work to come back and all of the ups and downs throughout, the whole process definitely gives me a lot more motivation to do ten times better this year,” Kitchel said.
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