Shelby Bradley | Sports Co-Editor
Jamie Navinskey is a sophomore Athletic Training and Human Performance major and Buena Vista University (BVU) volleyball recruit from Nortonville, Kansas. Navinskey was recruited for the Beavers as an outside hitter and was expected to make a huge impact on this 2015 team until she suffered a season ending injury during the first day of preseason.
Navinskey tore her ACL and is out for the entire season. Although she does not have a significant presence on the court for the Beavers, she still does what she can for the team.
“I would say her biggest role currently is as a vocal leader,” assistant coach Micah Rhodes said. “What I appreciate most about her is her voice. She understands the game well and sees the court well. She’s able to call out shots for our hitters, identify where the opposing hitters are and give feedback in a manner that is different from mine – but that is respected and appreciated by the other players.”
Contributing to the team in spite of her injury means a lot to Navinskey. She is a transfer from Benedictine College and was a bit nervous coming into a new team, but now she’s also adjusting into a new role on the team as well.
“I was nervous, coming to a new school and playing with all new girls. It would have been a really easy thing to exclude the new girl with the torn ACL, as quickly as it happened. But the girls and coaches all really try to keep me included as much as they can so that’s been really nice, to still feel like I’m part of the team,” Navinskey said.
Navinskey speaks highly of her rehab sessions and the trainers who have helped her in the recovery process. Maggie Charek, athletic trainer, mainly works with the volleyball team and was able to get a head start with Navinskey on her rehab.
Charek said that ACL tears typically see six months of rehab post-surgery, which would mean Navinskey could potentially be released to play February 21, but she’s hoping for February 13.
“Whatever I have to go through now, it won’t even be worth comparing to the feeling I’ll have this spring and next season when I can finally step on the court with the girls and represent the school I fell in love with,” Navinskey said.
Although Navinskey notes it is tough watching from the sidelines, she is ready to come back in the post season stronger, faster and better than she ever was.
The Beavers now sit 17-10 overall in the season and 4-1 in the IIAC. The team is currently tied for first place in the conference with Wartburg College and Luther College and hopes to maintain that spot after tonight’s match against the Spartans of Dubuque.
“I think Jamie is a constant reminder to our team that you can’t take playing for granted, because you never know when the opportunity might be taken away,” Rhodes said. “I know it’s been hard on Jamie, but I think her mentality of ‘I won’t quit’ and her desire to get back on the court as soon as possible has really motivated and pushed the team to give their best efforts.”
Photo by Taylor Staab
