Mehring returns to volleyball court

Becky Mehring overcame many obstacles on the volleyball court
during her journey up the volleyball ladder in the 2003 and 2004
seasons.

She began her UCLA career coming off the bench and eventually
worked her way into the starting lineup, leading the Bruins in
points and kills on numerous occasions during her sophomore year.
The outside hitter was even named to the Honorable Mention Pac-10
All-Freshman Team in 2003 and garnered Honorable Mention All-Pac-10
honors in 2004.

But in 2005 Mehring redshirted the season as family matters
pulled her from the court to the sidelines. In turn, however, she
was rewarded with two other big treasures.

Mehring, who went by her maiden name, Green, in her first two
seasons at UCLA, returns to the team in 2006 with a husband and a
baby boy by her side as she attempts to pick up where she left off
in her breakout 2004 season.

The star outside hitter married recent graduate and former UCLA
soccer midfielder Luke Mehring on July 8, 2005. Later on Oct. 28,
while her teammates battled the women of Troy, Mehring gave birth
to her son Mason.

“I had a lot of support from my teammates,” Mehring
said. “I had Mason the day we played at ‘SC. It was up
the 10 freeway, and they and the coaches came (to the
hospital).”

During her year off, the junior outside hitter found it
difficult to be away from the sport she had been playing since she
was 13. The new mother had hoped she could jump right back in and
train like she had been doing previously.

“It was so hard to be away from volleyball,” Mehring
said. “It was hardest after I had Mason because I
wasn’t pregnant. I was normal again and I was thinking
“˜Why can’t I play, why cant I go out
there?'”

But Mehring has finally rejoined her teammates on the court
after her year spent watching and waiting, and she is ready to get
back into the swing of things. Yet, as many new mothers know, it
isn”˜t an easy road to return to a pre-pregnancy fitness
level.

“It was really hard (to get back into shape for volleyball
after the pregnancy), but the coaches were very supportive,”
Green said. “I think it was hardest for me because I expected
to be right where I left off.”

In addition to battling her own high standards, Mehring has to
battle from the bench for playing time like she did her freshman
year. Sophomores Kaitlin Sather and Ali Daley are currently in a
struggle over the starting spot and are holding an edge over the
2004 Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 selection.

Taking all this in stride, Mehring is slowly working her way
back into the lineup and has already gotten a few kills under her
belt in her third season.

Her year off may have been a setback, but there is no doubt she
will make a comeback ““ especially with Luke and Mason now
cheering her on.

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