After 30 career matches and numerous injuries, Ohio outside hitter Carley Remmers is calling it a career.
Remmers, who underwent her second back surgery a few weeks ago, did have one final hurrah in Bobcat jersey and it was a big one.
On Aug. 31, the Bobcats travelled to Lincoln, Nebraska, to face the reigning national champion Huskers just 50 miles from Remmers’ hometown of Filley, Nebraska.
According to the Lincoln Journal Star, Remmers was already in her home state preparing for her surgery when her family had an idea. Could she at least wear her Bobcat jersey for the match, as many of them had never seen her player collegiately?
Her team and her coach went one better. They not only brought her jersey, but the rest of her gear – shoes, kneepads, etc. And even more, coach Deane Webb gave Remmers a moment she will never forget, naming her as a starter for the match and garnering her a homecoming reception.
today the lil vball girl who grew up on husker vball had her dream come true. i am 4ever proud to be from the state of NE and 4ever proud to be an OUBobcat. thank you to my team, coaches, family, friends and the amazing Husker Fans for making today a day i will never forget💚 https://t.co/jXmhLzoYSB
— Jo (@CarleyJo15) August 31, 2018
The crowd simply knew it was honoring a Nebraska native. What the Husker fans didn’t know was that it would be the last time Remmers would be introduced as a Bobcat as the player had already determined she would be medically retiring.
The video of the introduction, which also saw Nebraska coach John Cook give her a commemorative ball and hug, has been viewed more than 118,000 times and the initial tweet by KLKN’s Andrew Ward has nearly 2,500 likes and 465 retweets. One of those retweets made the day even more memorable for Remmers.
Ahh you are too sweet! I saw the video from today and couldn't help but share the love with everyone! Welcome home! 🙂 https://t.co/fNe8DE1bAx
— Jordan Larson (@JordanLarson10) September 1, 2018
And so the on-the-court story for Remmers had a Wizard of Oz “there’s no place like home” type ending, even if she subbed out of the match before the opening play.
A career spanning four seasons and featuring 200 digs, 120 kills, 27 blocks and 20 aces ended with the applause of nearly 8,000 Husker fans just miles from her hometown surrounded by family and friends.
The two-time All-MAC Honor Roll selection and four-time Athletics Director Honor Roll member left the court with 12 double-digit dig efforts and one double-digit kill tally on her resume. Remmers will graduate in May and has thoughts of coaching in future.
The Bobcats are 4-6 on the season, but have won three of their last five matches heading into this weekend’s Mizzou Invitational against Drake, Missouri and Texas A&M Corpus-Christi.
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