Throughout the 2018 beach season, former Big East Player of the Year Lydia Dimke and a few other fifth-year players heading from the gym to the beach will walk through their transitions to the beach game.
Dimke, the 2016 Big East Player of the Year and a two-time All-America honoree, paced Creighton with 10.64 assists and 2.54 digs per set and 28 aces in 2017. She also guided the Bluejays to a .279 hitting percentage en route to an NCAA second round appearance. In 2016, the 6-foot-3 setter led Creighton to the Elite Eight in her first year after transferring from Purdue. The Hamm Lake, Minnesota, native recorded 11.36 assists and 2.67 digs per set and 18 aces en route to the Big East Player of the Year nod.
In her second entry, the South Carolina transfer talks about the build up to her first match (Feb. 23) and the angst of suffering an injury that has held her off the court for the last five weeks.
After crossing the halfway mark of my first semester, I am happy to assure everyone I am truly enjoying every second here in Columbia, South Carolina! Although the weather changes from 40 degrees and windy to 75 and sunny on a day-to-day basis, the people have been consistently nice and the experience has been overall a great one. Classes are in full swing and although they’re challenging at times, I am enjoying my program and the incredible connections I have been making with successful business owners and others who work in the sports industry.
After five weeks of preseason, I was beginning to feel comfortable in the sand – I was getting better at hitting my shots, knowing when to block or pull and how to stay aggressive without making silly errors. Although I still had a long ways to go, I was beyond excited to finally compete in my first match as a Gamecock. However, on the first point of the first game, I landed from a block and broke my foot (the second metatarsal to be exact). I heard it crack right away, but a combination of adrenaline, nerves, excitement and competitive drive allowed me to play the entire match and come out with a win! (It helps when you have such an awesome partner!)
After a trip to the emergency room, the doctor informed me I would be in a boot for the next eight weeks with several weeks of rehab after that. It was an emotional rollercoaster trying to balance my frustrations but show my support and happiness for the rest of the team. Although breaking my foot was not a part of my plan, this challenge has allowed me to grow in many ways and gave me a new appreciation for the game of volleyball. Even though I now have to sit and watch practice, my teammates are so wonderful and supportive, I still feel equally apart of the team as before the injury.
Even without getting to play, I absolutely love game days. From our pre-game activation/pump up in the weight room, to watching my teammates dominate on the court, the entire day is full of energy and love. Compared to indoor, beach games are a very different vibe – there is music playing, fans in lawn chairs and volleyball games happening on several different courts. I promise you will never get bored at a beach volleyball tournament! I am beyond excited to be progressing out of the boot and hopefully easing my way back into practice as soon as possible (I am currently at week five). I have never been out for this long in my life and I can tell you I hope it never happens again!
Lydia
My Journey to the Beach: Lydia Dimke
Entry 1: Feb. 5, 2018
Leave a Reply