TicketsSept. 8, 2006
Myanna Hellsten just had to play. After three years as a starting middle blocker for the University of Cincinnati volleyball team, it was going to be tough not suiting up for her senior year. Problem was, a troublesome thumb injury almost cut the Austin, Texas native's career short.
Following the 2005 season, Hellsten's left thumb was hurting very badly. Doctors said surgery was necessary if she wanted to play in 2006. For good reason, Hellsten was a little nervous about the diagnosis after she encountered complications during a shoulder surgery earlier in her career. After talking with her parents and the UC coaches, it appeared as Hellsten's career would come to an end.
"After the surgeon said I needed surgery, I didn't think it was worth it to play this year," she says. "(Head coach) Reed (Sunahara) was really good about it and told me if I wasn't comfortable, then I shouldn't play."
So with her career seemingly over, Hellsten sat and watched during the Bearcats spring season, assisting the coaches and student manager Hannah May. She also assisted Sunahara coaching Team Z on the club level. But inside, Hellsten's fire for competition still burned.
"At first, I accepted that I was only going to play three years and then step away," Hellsten says. "But the spring season was tough, really tough."
As much as Sunahara and his staff appreciated the fact that Hellsten was around and helping, everyone knew she wanted to get back on the court.
"Myanna helped me coach on the club level and she enjoyed that," Sunahara says. "She came to everything in the spring to support her teammates, so she was still involved in volleyball. But after the spring season, she realized she still wanted to play because she was going to miss it."
Fast forward to the conclusion of the spring season, when Hellsten saw another surgeon who said with the right taping job before each match and practice, she could play without surgery.
With Hellsten back in the fold, the Bearcats got the 2006 season off to a fast start, winning five of their first six matches, heading into this weekend's Colorado Invitational. One of the biggest keys to UC's success has been its blocking, which is one of the strongest elements of Hellsten's game. In the first round of NCAA statistics released on Sept. 6, Hellsten is ranked first in the country, while Cincinnati as a team is ranked second. Being on top to Hellsten is "fun," but she is quick to point out it's as much about the team as anything.
"It's a cool thing being ranked first, but it says a lot about the team, with being ranked second," she says. "My teammates are doing a great job setting up the blocks and that just puts me in the right position. That makes my life so much easier."
This year's edition of the Bearcats is a young one as all but Hellsten and fellow senior Noel Olson have two years or less of playing experience. That fact alone makes Sunahara glad Hellsten came back.
"Myanna adds fire to our team," he says. "She has brought so much passion and energy to our team and that's something we really needed. She is also such a good leader. It's definitely to our advantage to have her back. Without her, I don't know what we would do in the middle."
While Sunahara is happy to have Hellsten back for one more year, so too is Olson. The duo are the only two seniors on this year's roster and are close friends off the court as well.
"Myanna is a really vocal player and that is a huge help on the court," Olson says. "She is a great player and a very consistent help to this team."
While the Bearcats' block total of over four per game and her mark of over two per game probably won't hold for the entire season, Hellsten feels the team can still be very successful at the net this season.
"This team is good enough to do great things," she says. "We have a pretty big front line and I think we can become a very good blocking team and dominate at the net."
With Myanna Hellsten, one of the top blockers in school history at the center, the Bearcats will try to block their way to the Promised Land this fall. With a rejuvenated spirit and fire, you can bet she will give it her best effort, because after all, she just had to play.