The LSU volleyball team’s season took a dramatic shift last Tuesday as junior middle blocker Khourtni Fears tore her ACL and MCL in her right knee during practice.
This is the second time in a row Fears suffered a season ending injury before the season started. She earned a medical redshirt last year, which gave her an extra year of eligibility. It remains unclear, however, if she is eligible for another redshirt this year.
“I never had a player going through this twice, but Khourtni is one of the mentally strongest kids on our team,” coach Fran Flory said. “She believes in who she is, what she is and her abilities as an athlete. I think she’ll be fine long term, and for some reason we don’t yet know, Khourtni will be better because of this.”
The coaching staff went into the season trying to find a replacement for last year’s senior starting setter Marlorie Pardo. Now the staff faces a new challenge and wants to make the most of its young middle blocker lineup.
Brittany Welsh, Tiara Gibson and Emily Ehrle stepped up as main middle blockers last weekend at the three-game tournament in Austin, Texas, but anybody could get their chance at this point.
“Fran said next man up,” Gibson said. “Anyone who wasn’t originally going to get some time is probably going to, so it provides a unique opportunity for underclassmen, who wouldn’t have gotten an opportunity to begin with.”
The most experienced middle blocker returning is Ehrle, who switched from outside hitter to middle blocker halfway through last season.
However, the most impressive blocking performance in Texas was by freshman Welsh. She led the team with six blocks in her first start as an LSU Tiger on the second day of the tournament against Rice.
“Khourtni’s impact has been huge on us,” Welsh said. “We have to come together as a team, and, personally, it influences me to be the best I can be.”
One hour before Fears’ injury, she said she was 100 percent ready and excited for the season. But she’s now outfitted with crutches and a knee brace.
Although she started her rehabilitation process, she said she tries to be involved with the team as much she can.
“Khourtni has been amazingly resilient,” Gibson said. “She’s spreading energy and gives good feedback. She’s being so positive, it’s ridiculous.”
Now the loss of the experienced middle blocker motivates the rest of the team.
“We want to be the best we can because she was always the best for us and always gave 110 percent,” Welsh said.
The coaching staff works on a system that makes Fears’ injury less dramatic for the playbook, said Flory. The team’s job is to work hard and stay confident.