Sarah Obras has been playing volleyball for 10 years, but she learned the most about the sport when she had to sit on the sidelines for six months because of knee surgery.
“Sitting out and watching volleyball teaches you a lot more than being in it,” the senior said. “I think I just took a different perspective on volleyball. I don’t want to say I took advantage of playing it before, but I never took the time to enjoy it.”
This season, all Obras wants to do is enjoy every minute she has on the court, and she hopes that will help make the team better.
“I’m not letting anything get in my way to have fun this year. That’s my goal is to have fun and win games,” Obras said. “My goal is to allow that to rub off on other people, and for other people to focus more on that and the fun of the game and the blessings and the ability to just play it.
“When you have all that in check, then the victories start to come.”
On Nov. 10, 2004, in a game against Miami University, Obras went up for a kill, had it blocked and then landed in a way that stressed her knee. She had to be carried off the court and later learned she had a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), torn medial collateral ligament (MCL) and torn meniscus.
She didn’t play volleyball again until June, and although the rehabilitation process was demanding, Obras said she gained a more team-oriented attitude.
“It gave me something that I wouldn’t have received without going through this process,” she said.
Head coach Randy Litchfield said he has seen Obras’ thought process evolve since her injury, and he thinks it’s great.
“The injury’s actually allowed Sarah to kind of sit back and say, ‘You know what, I want to have a blast this year. I want this team to be as good as they can be,’” Litchfield said. “It may mean less numbers for her, and believe you me, that would be the best thing for this team is Sarah not to have to carry as big a load.”
Through the course of her three years at Ball State, Obras has climbed into the top three career spots in 10 categories. She ranks first in attempts in a career, second in kills in a career and third in digs in a career.
This season, though, all of Obras’ goals are strictly about the team.
“I don’t care how anybody plays individually — if we go somewhere as a team, we’re being successful,” she said.
Obras hopes the Cardinals can win the Mid-American Conference tournament, which would gain the team a spot in the NCAA tournament.
The team started practice on Aug. 9, and Obras said she felt great.
“I’m back more than I thought I would be, so that’s what I’m excited about,” she said.
Initially, Obras said she expected to be able to get back to the court in two or three months, but that didn’t happen. She had to wait because of swelling problems with her knee.
“The early stages of her rehab went real well, and then she kind of hit the dog days of rehab, and I don’t think that period of time went so well for her,” Litchfield said. “I’m sure it’s been a roller coaster ride for her, and which rehab typically is.”
Obras said she was only able to get through the really tough times because of the support she had — especially through her faith in God.
“I had a lot of support and was able to get through it,” Obras said. “I would not have been able to get through this without my faith, because it hit a lot of my weak spots.”
Her teammates, parents, trainers and Litchfield also gave her a lot of support, she said.
Teammate Stephanie Bacan, who has had multiple knee surgeries, said she was surprised at how well Obras was coming along.
“I think she’s going to be just fine during the year. Her legs are going to come back really fast, and I don’t see it slowing her down at all,” she said.
Obras’ jump is down about 2 inches from what it was last season, but Litchfield said that decrease is probably based on the fact she doesn’t have her legs back. He said that Obras is a good 90 percent.
“She’s coming along very strongly," athletic trainer Stacy Struble said. "Her on court performance has been imporvoing every day”
The Cardinals will open the season at Worthen Arena on Aug. 26 against Southern Methodist. For now, Obras isn’t worried about kills and digs; she just wants to enjoy her final season.
“I just want to have a fun season and to look back on it and get chills and be like, ‘Man, that was a great season,’” Obras said. “Whether or not that has to do with how many wins or losses we have, that’s not up to me. It’s what I make of it.”
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