The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OLYMPIC SPORTS PROFILES Clare McElheny Leads From Experience Claire McElheny had the same aspi- rations about early playing time that most true freshmen do, but a childhood playing the sport she loved took a toll on the tendons in McElheny's knees, and the promising Westfield, Ind., prep prospect was forced into the operating room prior to her arrival in Ann Arbor five years ago. "I didn't have any major ACL or MCL Fifth-year senior volleyball player injury, but the wear and tear of a 14- year career caught up to me, and I had two surgeries on each knee before even coming to Michigan," McElheny said. "The first week I was even able to really jump at all was the first week of pre- season camp. "I was hoping to be strong enough to be back in time and make an impact as a freshman, but we talked with the weightlifting staff and medical staff, and our coaches decided it would be better to make an impact later on in my ca- reer rather than forcing the issue when I wasn't really ready health-wise. Redshirt seasons are a rare occurrence in high-level college volleyball, but the year of observation from the sidelines offered a unique perspective for an op- timistic McElheny, who made the most of her difficult situation. "It made for an easier transition," said " in that time span, McElheny was given the ultimate vote of confidence by her teammates heading into her final sea- son as a Wolverine. "Last spring, our coaches let the team choose who they trusted and thought could lead this program in the right direction," McElheny said. "We went through an interesting process, a really eye-opening process. The process included team-wide lead- ership workshops, in which each player anonymously wrote what they thought about each other. "I believe the exact phrasing was, 'If " you were to go to war with your team- mates, what do you think they would bring? What would you count on them for?'" she said. What her teammates disclosed was a humbling, and confidence-building, revelation. "My teammates respected me for be- ing calm under pressure, my confidence in certain situations, and carrying my- self in a respectful way, "When it comes down to game point, " McElheny said. they know that I can put the ball away. "More importantly, they felt I was trust- worthy, and they could come to me with anything — both on and off the court. "It was amazing to read what they thought, and how they felt playing next to me — I may have never known how much they respect the way I lead under pressure. Her ability to lead under pressure helped the Wolverines sprint out to an 11-1 start, and although the team has cooled down and sat at 17-9 through Oct. 27, the 2012 season has been, and will continue to be, a supremely special year for Michigan's leader at the net. "Obviously, this year will mean a lot to me no matter what, " ing a fifth-year senior, and being around so long, to know that my coaches and teammates trust me to lead our girls in the right direction both on and off the court — I can't describe it. "This is my last chance to leave a mark on this program, and to be given that opportunity is the biggest honor. " McElheny said. "Be- — Kevin Minor " McElheny, who was selected a co-cap- tain of the 2012 squad by her team- mates. "The opportunity to see how the upperclassmen, and some of my fellow freshman classmates that saw action, handled certain situations and competi- tion certainly helped. Still, for the three-time first-team In- diana all-state selection (2005-07), not seeing the court in meaningful action for almost a year had its downfalls, and even had her questioning if she could ever return to her previous form. "Being out those eight or nine months and not being able to show people what I could do, and not getting into those competitive situations was frustrating, " she said. "I really missed performing in pressure situations and kind of lost a bit of confidence. "I love being in the heat of things and Those uncertainties have undoubt- edly been quelled. After appearing in 68 consecutive matches during her redshirt sophomore and junior seasons, and reaching double-digit kills 23 times " " wasn't for a while. There was a point where I wondered if I could still do it. McElheny, a fifth-year senior and a team co-captain, helped guide Michigan's volleyball squad to a record of 17-9 as of Oct. 27. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS NOVEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 115