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The Daily Tar Heel

Green Back, Better Than Ever After Rehabilitation Struggles

But seeing Green's constant improvement and consistent production for the North Carolina women's volleyball team this season has been a thing of beauty.

The impact that Green, a junior who is starting for the first time in her career, has made on the team is evidenced on the ACC leaderboards. She is sixth in the conference in blocking and second in hitting percentage, helping UNC place second and third, respectively, in those categories.

"She's had a good attitude about practicing hard and trying to get it done," UNC coach Joe Sagula said. "She produced good results, and it's been hard to get her off the court."

But there were times last year when many -- especially Green -- didn't expect her to be on the court at all.

Green had offseason surgery in which a steel rod was inserted in her left tibia to relieve the pressure of a stress fracture.

She said she first felt pain in the leg last September but didn't receive an official diagnosis until January, after playing a full season.

There are still obvious remnants from that surgery. She has yet to regain most of her foot speed and still can not jump off her left foot.

Green said there were several occasions during the difficult rehabilitation period when she wanted to quit.

"I was a bitter rehabber," Green said. "I was like, 'I don't know why I'm rehabbing, I'm not going to be back. Why are you making me do this?'"

Green said she persevered because her teammates supported her throughout the process, even when she was the only one not running sprints in practice. She also had Holly Strauss, who was recuperating from reconstructive ankle surgery, to struggle through rehab with.

But she said her biggest influence was her roommate, Summer Knowles of the track team. Green said she was motivated by watching Knowles' constant training to recover from ACL surgery.

"I had a change of heart during the rehab," Green said. "It was encouraging just to know that it was possible. I'm not even supposed to be playing right now; I'm not supposed to be starting; I'm not supposed to be having a great season. I'm really, truly blessed."

Green's persistence has paid off this year. She already has appeared in twice as many games as she did last year, and her attack percentage has rocketed up by more than 200 points.

"She's always been this good," Strauss said. "She just hasn't believed it, and I think this year it just sparked, and she's been doing a phenomenal job in the middle."

Sagula, who called Green the most improved player on the team, said the team (31-3, 16-2 in the ACC) will need the consistent play it has received from Green all year to make a run in the NCAA Tournament, which starts Thursday.

"We're going to need solid blocking, is the first thing, and to give us some key swings and points," Sagula said. "High-percentage offense -- she doesn't have to have 10 or 15 kills."

Green said she is ready to finally make her mark in the postseason.

"This has been a long three years, and to finally be in this position, starting, playing, and being able to make an impact -- I'm just excited."

The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.

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