Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Jed Blackwell

 

One of the keys to Polk County’s volleyball success discovered something fairly quickly when an injury derailed her senior season.

Just because Sophia Overholt can’t lead on the court, that doesn’t mean she can’t lead.

Overholt suffered a knee injury in a win at R-S Central earlier this month. She immediately embraced a new, difficult role as one of Polk County’s biggest fans.

“It’s tough to sit there and watch and not be able to go out and play,” Overholt said. “But, you know, I’m trying my best to cheer from the sidelines and support my team as much as I can, give them feedback on everything and be their biggest cheerleader.”

For Overholt, an accomplished hitter who adds a dynamic offensive threat for the Wolverines, time on the bench has been as tough mentally as it has been physically.

“The first couple of weeks was really tough, just mentally really hard,” she said. “Having to get my mind to understand that I can’t play, I can’t do this. That was hard. But I’m killing it at rehab, trying to get better so I can come back even sooner. Mentally, I’m just trying to stay positive.”

Late last week that positive attitude got a little more positive after a visit to the doctor. Overholt’s injury was diagnosed as a sprain rather than a tear, and she’s got a shot to return to the court in October if her physical therapy continues to go well.

She’s attacking the opportunity to return.

“That drives me a lot in rehab,” she said. “I know I have to get the healing that I need, but I also want to push my body to make it so I can get to the point where I can play again and just really be there for my team.”

The USC Upstate commit is determined, though, to do all she can for the Wolverines whether she’s on the court or not. She was one of the team’s chief encouragers on the court. She continues to encourage them off of it.

“I just want to be a good teammate,” she said. “If somebody’s down, go to them and say ‘you got it, next ball.’ Just help put mistakes in the past. Anything I can do to help my team to do better and want to play better, that’s what I’ll do.”

It’s working. Morgan Yoder and Mia Bradley are shouldering more of the offensive load in Overholt’s absence. Kylie Lewis and Akeela Cunningham have stepped up their production. All over the court, the Wolverines are rallying to fill the gap left by Overholt’s absence. It’s something she loves to see.

“I’m so proud of them,” she said. “Especially when we played West (Henderson). It happened the night before; we didn’t even have a chance to practice, and it made my heart so happy just to see that they can adapt, go out there, have fun, play hard, and do what they need to do.”

The injury has also helped Overholt focus on what’s important to her for the rest of the season.

“Even if I’m not playing, for my team to play for each other, play the hardest they can, and have fun doing it,” she said.