A collision left Amy O'Brien's head and neck hurting, but she came back to guide Gulf toward district play.
By FRANK PASTOR
Published October 19, 2004
NEW PORT RICHEY - It's something Gulf coach Shari Schau tells her players all the time. When a ball is headed for the floor, get down and do what you can to keep it in play.
But when a Hudson serve tumbled toward the hardcourt during a match against the Bucs three weeks ago, two players dove for the ball.
It turned out to be one too many.
Outside hitter Kayla Wilson's knee collided with middle hitter Amy O'Brien's head, causing O'Brien's neck to pop and pain to surge to her forehead. She was rushed to the emergency room, where doctors told her she sustained something akin to whiplash; they prescribed muscle relaxers.
Two days later, with heat patches taped to her neck and back, O'Brien played well enough to earn all-tournament honors at the Hudson Invitational despite sitting out one of the two days.
"She really did a nice job for us," Schau said. "We weren't sure how strong she would come back, but she did a great job at the end of the Hudson tournament for us."
Though the pain in her head subsided, O'Brien still feels tightness and pain in her back.
But that won't stop her from doing everything she can to keep the ball off the floor today when Gulf plays Zephyrhills in the opening round of the Class 5A, District 5 tournament at Wesley Chapel.
A victory over the Bulldogs, whom the Bucs have beaten twice this season, would send Gulf to Wednesday's semifinal against top seed Hudson.
"I knew it wasn't broken, I could move my neck," O'Brien said. "I just didn't want it to be something where I couldn't play the whole next week or something."
For Gulf to play beyond this week, it will need a significant contribution from O'Brien, its 5-foot-6 senior captain. A natural outside hitter, she was moved to the middle two seasons ago to help her undersized team.
Though the position switch caused O'Brien to run more, it was nothing compared to the adjustment she had to make this season. Quiet by nature, O'Brien has been asked to become a vocal leader, shouting instructions and encouragement to her teammates.
"Ever since I started playing volleyball, I've been probably the quietest person, and then this year I'm supposed to step up," O'Brien said. "It's probably not hard for any other person. It's just different this year for me."
Fortunately for O'Brien, the game itself hasn't changed since she began playing club at age 12.
Her mother, Barbara, played in high school and college, and O'Brien's older sisters, Cathy and Laura, played at Gulf then went on to play and coach in college. O'Brien remembers attending Cathy's matches when she was growing up and Laura teaching her setting and bumping.
Though she is three or four inches shorter than her sisters, O'Brien stands on her own merits. Gulf's career leader in kill attempts (1,330), kill percentage (36 percent), serve attempts (683), good serves (616) and points scored (358), she has broken several of Laura's school records.
"It's really been fun watching the O'Brien kids," Schau said. "When we had senior night the other night, I walked up to Mrs. O'Brien and said, "Thanks for all the girls."'
