Junior Sarah Obras will undergo an MRI tomorrow after injuringher left knee in Ball State's match at Miami on Wednesday.
However, she did visit a doctor today and according to headcoach Randy Litchfield two doctors agreed on a diagnosis.
"Two different versions agree that she's got a torn ACL(anterior cruciate ligament) and a torn MCL (medial collateralligament) and a torn meniscus," Litchfield said.
Team doctors declined to comment on Obras's injury.
The ACL and MCL are two of four knee ligaments that connect thefemur (upper leg bone) with the tibia (lower leg bone). Accordingto webmd.com, the ACL prevents the "lower leg bone from slidingforward or tuning inward when the leg is straight." It alsoprevents the knee from being stretched passed its normal limits,according to webmd.com.
Typically, but not always, surgery followed by rehabilitation isrequired for an ACL tear, according to webmd.com.
The third edition of Michael Hutson's "Sports Injuries:Recognition and Management" says an ACL tear is "often associatedwith injury to the menisci or collateral ligaments."
The MRI on Friday will determine the final diagnosis.
"Sarah's a strong kid, she'll deal with this and is also thetype of kid that will come out of it stronger," Litchfieldsaid.
While the final news on Obras's injury will be determinedtomorrow, Litchfield said he is trying to create a positiveattitude among the team.
"I stole the two seniors (Steph Keller and Stacie Baldwin) frompractice this morning and we met for two hours while everyone elseworked out," Litchfield said. "I'm just trying to create aproactive plan to this. Bottom line is if others can start playinggood volleyball again, we'll be just fine."
The loss comes while the team is in the midst of a three-matchlosing streak and needs a win over Eastern Michigan on Friday toearn a No. 2 seed in the Mid-American Conference tournament.Litchfield said the players will deal with the loss on anindividual basis.
"How people deal with this is very individual," Litchfield said."It's hard to force a team feeling. I'm blessed with the abilityto, in a pretty short period of time, help Sarah get off the floorand then try and figure out how to win a match.
"I hate the fact this might sound unsympathetic," Litchfieldsaid. "I feel sorry for Sarah; I don't feel sorry for anybody elseon this team."
Obras is undoubtedly one of the best outside attackers -- notonly at Ball State but also in the Mid-American Conference. She wasselected as the MAC Freshman of the Year and earned First TeamAll-MAC honors last season.
Currently, she ranks second on Ball State's career kills chartwith 1,616. Megan Hammons has the most with 1,827. Herkills-per-game average is higher than any other player's in BallState history, averaging 4.72. Her 4.88 average so far this yearranked 29th in the country going into this week.
Last season, she hit a school and MAC-record 695 kills and alsoset an NCAA record for attempts in a season with 1,981.
The Cardinals have not experienced a major injury to a playeryet this season, but had quite a few that kept them from meetingexpectations last season.
"Certainly, last year, we grew quite accustomed to this,"Litchfield said. "This comes at a time where you don't get theamount of time you would like to have to prepare different lineupslike you really need too or that's required in this situation.
"We'll definitely have to do this by committee a littlebit."
In most cases like this, people would have a tendency to feelsorry for the team, but Litchfield said his team needs support, notsympathy.
"I hope people feel sorry for Sarah, but I don't want any pityfor this team, this team's got to much going for it for anybody tofeel sorry for them," Litchfield said. "Support is great; sympathyis destructive in this case."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
