Indiana University Athletics
Nwaeze Impresses In Senior Season After Injury
10/15/2015 11:28:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Awele Nwaeze wasn't supposed to be back like this.
The senior middle blocker underwent back surgery at the beginning of June to repair a herniated disc in her back. Doctors said she'd likely miss the beginning of the season. Head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan was prepared to see her miss nearly half of it. Nwaeze herself admitted she didn't know what to expect.
Four months out of surgery, Nwaeze has surpassed nearly everyone's expectations by returning to the volleyball court well ahead of schedule. She was cleared to rejoin the Hoosiers at the beginning of the season and leads Indiana averaging one block per game.
"Initially, I was pretty scared about having to get it worked on, but I was able to get with the surgeon and I ended up healing," Nwaeze said. "I honestly didn't think I'd get back this quickly and be this functional. I just got lucky."
Good fortune may have played a role, but Dunbar-Kruzan would argue it was Nwaeze herself who expedited the rehabilitation process.
"You could tell she wanted to get back as soon as she could," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "I think credit to her. She was in great shape physically already and really worked to get through the rehab."
Within a week of having the surgery, Nwaeze was upright and walking. A few weeks later, she was running around and breaking a sweat again. Before long, she returned to limited volleyball activities and got to work preparing for her final season in Bloomington.
Nearly all of Nwaeze's summer was spent rehabbing. If she couldn't run, she'd do stationary lifts. If trainers limited her to only 50 jumps on a given day, she'd hit 50 on the dot and try to make the most out of them.
Nwaeze said the most difficult part of the process was that she didn't actually feel injured. She naturally has a high tolerance for pain, which meant she often felt like she could play at full speed well before she physically was ready.
Coaches and members of the training staff needed to hold her back at times, ensuring that she didn't do too much too fast and reinjure herself.
"Honestly, rehab was just really frustrating because I had such a high pain tolerance," Nwaeze said. "I wanted to do more. For a long time, I was on restriction because I couldn't actually feel when I was going to be hurt. In the beginning, it was frustrating and it felt like everything was slow."
As frustrating as it felt, Nwaeze was actually well ahead of her recovery timetable the whole time. By Aug. 28, she was on the floor again for Indiana's season-opening win against Bowling Green.
"When she came back, she was still working some things out, but she's just gotten better as the season has gone on," Dunbar-Kruzan said.
At 6-foot-1, Nwaeze is one of the best blockers Dunbar-Kruzan said she's ever seen. She has both the physical tools and wingspan as well as the ability to see plays before they develop and be in position to not always record a block necessarily, but to at least be in the position to alter a shot, Dunbar-Kruzan said.
More often than not, Nwaeze manages to get involved in nearly every play.
"She can get to every ball, literally," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "She's so patient and is so good at making her reads that she's very good for us at getting to the ball. If you aren't patient about it, you're guessing. She doesn't need to guess very often."
One of the things Dunbar-Kruzan said she's impressed with most about Nwaeze is her drive to continually get better each practice. Nwaeze has aspirations of playing professionally after college, which means there really isn't an end in sight quite yet.
That's partially the reason why she healed as quickly as she did. Nwaeze said she wants to make her mark on Indiana volleyball in her final season and then worry about whatever professional options come her way.
She said she still isn't playing at the level she expects herself at but added that she's getting closer. If she improves anywhere near the rate she recovered from injury, she could be well on her way.
"Honestly, I try to take it one game at a time because we've had seniors before and I've been in that position in high school where you put too much pressure on the game and doing the things you need to do," Nwaeze said. "You kind of just have to live in the moment and make the most out of it."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Awele Nwaeze wasn't supposed to be back like this.
The senior middle blocker underwent back surgery at the beginning of June to repair a herniated disc in her back. Doctors said she'd likely miss the beginning of the season. Head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan was prepared to see her miss nearly half of it. Nwaeze herself admitted she didn't know what to expect.
Four months out of surgery, Nwaeze has surpassed nearly everyone's expectations by returning to the volleyball court well ahead of schedule. She was cleared to rejoin the Hoosiers at the beginning of the season and leads Indiana averaging one block per game.
"Initially, I was pretty scared about having to get it worked on, but I was able to get with the surgeon and I ended up healing," Nwaeze said. "I honestly didn't think I'd get back this quickly and be this functional. I just got lucky."
Good fortune may have played a role, but Dunbar-Kruzan would argue it was Nwaeze herself who expedited the rehabilitation process.
"You could tell she wanted to get back as soon as she could," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "I think credit to her. She was in great shape physically already and really worked to get through the rehab."
Within a week of having the surgery, Nwaeze was upright and walking. A few weeks later, she was running around and breaking a sweat again. Before long, she returned to limited volleyball activities and got to work preparing for her final season in Bloomington.
Nearly all of Nwaeze's summer was spent rehabbing. If she couldn't run, she'd do stationary lifts. If trainers limited her to only 50 jumps on a given day, she'd hit 50 on the dot and try to make the most out of them.
Nwaeze said the most difficult part of the process was that she didn't actually feel injured. She naturally has a high tolerance for pain, which meant she often felt like she could play at full speed well before she physically was ready.
Coaches and members of the training staff needed to hold her back at times, ensuring that she didn't do too much too fast and reinjure herself.
"Honestly, rehab was just really frustrating because I had such a high pain tolerance," Nwaeze said. "I wanted to do more. For a long time, I was on restriction because I couldn't actually feel when I was going to be hurt. In the beginning, it was frustrating and it felt like everything was slow."
As frustrating as it felt, Nwaeze was actually well ahead of her recovery timetable the whole time. By Aug. 28, she was on the floor again for Indiana's season-opening win against Bowling Green.
"When she came back, she was still working some things out, but she's just gotten better as the season has gone on," Dunbar-Kruzan said.
At 6-foot-1, Nwaeze is one of the best blockers Dunbar-Kruzan said she's ever seen. She has both the physical tools and wingspan as well as the ability to see plays before they develop and be in position to not always record a block necessarily, but to at least be in the position to alter a shot, Dunbar-Kruzan said.
More often than not, Nwaeze manages to get involved in nearly every play.
"She can get to every ball, literally," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "She's so patient and is so good at making her reads that she's very good for us at getting to the ball. If you aren't patient about it, you're guessing. She doesn't need to guess very often."
One of the things Dunbar-Kruzan said she's impressed with most about Nwaeze is her drive to continually get better each practice. Nwaeze has aspirations of playing professionally after college, which means there really isn't an end in sight quite yet.
That's partially the reason why she healed as quickly as she did. Nwaeze said she wants to make her mark on Indiana volleyball in her final season and then worry about whatever professional options come her way.
She said she still isn't playing at the level she expects herself at but added that she's getting closer. If she improves anywhere near the rate she recovered from injury, she could be well on her way.
"Honestly, I try to take it one game at a time because we've had seniors before and I've been in that position in high school where you put too much pressure on the game and doing the things you need to do," Nwaeze said. "You kind of just have to live in the moment and make the most out of it."
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