It wasn’t a huge serve or even a crucial point, but to
Lauren Hogan, it meant everything.
Despite a debilitating shoulder injury that has spelled a
premature end to her volleyball career, the senior outside hitter
stepped on the court at Pauley Pavilion for the first time since
2000, serving the first point of Friday’s match against
Arizona.
“It’s been a really long time since I have been able
to play,” said Hogan. “It was great to be out here
playing with all the girls again.”
Two weeks before the Bruins hosted Arizona in the squad’s
final home match of the season, UCLA head coach Andy Banachowski
suggested to Hogan that she should attempt to play.
“She started practicing serving one ball a day and then
two balls a day,” Banachowski said. “I could see how
excited she was with the prospects of being able to
serve.”
Making her first start in over two years, Hogan served the
opening point of the match, floating the ball softly over the net.
Arizona’s Laurie Gardner was whistled for an illegal set on
the point, giving the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
On the ensuing point, the Wildcats managed to return
Hogan’s serve, as freshman outside hitter Kim Glass crushed a
ball toward the far corner of the court. Hogan dove to the floor
and dug the ball before being removed from the match for good after
the point.
“That wasn’t in the script for her to go to the
floor like she did,” Banachowski said. “I am thrilled
for Lauren. It was great to see her score a point on her serve, and
then get a dig too.”
Hogan emerged as one of the top defensive players on the UCLA
squad during a promising freshman campaign, but experienced intense
pain in her arms and hands each day after practice. She was
diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, a set of neurovascular
symptoms in the upper extremities caused by pressure on the nerves
and vessels in the arms, chest and neck.
“After practices, my hands would turn blue and numb, and
my arms would swell up,” Hogan said. “My first rib was
blocking the circulation to my arms on both my right and left
side.”
Hogan underwent surgery to remove a rib in her right side and
missed her entire sophomore season. She returned in 2000 and saw
limited playing time, appearing in nine matches with starts against
Michigan State and Washington State.
Although Hogan attempted to play again last season, the pain was
too intense for her to endure. She had a second operation in
January, but will be unable to return to the court.
“They could do a third surgery on my left side, but there
would still be a 50-50 chance that I’d be able to
play,” Hogan said. “I have to draw the line somewhere.
My body has gone through a lot.”
Despite not setting foot on the court this season, Hogan has
found a way to contribute to the team. She is a tri-captain along
with senior Lauren Fendrick and sophomore Krystal McFarland, and
acts as a mentor for some of the younger players.
“I have realized there are other ways to help out the
team,” Hogan said. “I’ve been able to talk to a
lot of the girls and help them through things that I have gone
through in the past.”
As drastically as the injuries have affected Hogan’s
volleyball career, it has had nearly as great an impact on her
daily life
“I have had to drop a lot of classes,” said Hogan
who is on pace to graduate after this quarter with a degree in
political science. “When the pain got really bad, it was hard
to focus on classes and finish papers on time.”
Unfortunately for Hogan, school work is all that has kept her at
UCLA for the last three years. While she will probably never play
volleyball again, her appearance on Friday night was a reminder of
how much she enjoys the sport.
“I get nostalgic thinking about all the times that I was
playing out here,” Hogan said. “It was really exciting
to have the opportunity to play with all the girls
again.”