By Jean Racine
Orlando Valkyries middle blocker Blake Mohler’s season was over before it started. The fourth-year pro suffered a torn hip labrum during practice in the second week of the inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation season.
“I just went on a block move and I thought I was severely dehydrated when I felt my hip cramped,” Mohler explained. “But turns out a few days later I started experiencing the hip pain — that’s when we found out I had torn my labrum and then went from there.”
Mohler, who had surgery performed by Dr. John Ruder on March 5, started rehab just two days post the operation.
“We started moving it around,” Mohler explained. “I’ve been doing rehab five days a week between our PT staff at the training center and Emily (Summerlin) our athletic trainer.”
While doing rehab, Mohler has been attending practices, film sessions and matches. She is making an impact on the team despite being injured.
“She’s just been absolutely crushing it in rehab and still coming to practices and film — everything we could ask for of somebody who’s on the injured list.” said Valkyries head coach Amy Pauly. “She has really great perspective. I think even just having her in the practice gym right now and film sessions, she gives great insight on ways that we can keep improving and get better.”
Mohler said that being sidelined allows her to improve her overall performance — her mental game and patience on the court.
“It’s kind of crazy — a season-ending injury — it really forces you to bring perspective to your sport and to your play,” Mohler said. “It’s not easy rehabbing an injury like this, so it’s teaching me so many things that I think will really help excel on the court next year in so many different areas.”
Pauly raves about Mohler’s offensive ability and work ethic.
“She is an offensive threat, for sure,” Pauly said. “She’s one of the best slide attackers that I’ve really been around because her arm is so fast.”
Pauly watched Mohler play at Purdue University, where she was a two-time Big Ten First Team All-Conference and AVCA All-Northeast Region First Team. After college, Mohler played for VfB Suhl Lotto Thüringen in Germany, Volley Düdingen in Switzerland and Béziers Volley in France.
“Watching her film when she was in France, I knew that she was a little bit undersized, but I could tell that she was one of the hardest working people on the court,” Pauly said. “She’s constantly working to transition, get off the net and be available for the setters. Even though she’s not getting a ton stuff blocked, she is moving up at that net and gets a ton of slowdowns and works her butt off.”
Pauly said Mohler’s offensive prowess and personality will shine on the court next season.
“Even just in the small time that we had with her in practice, she’s a terror on the other side of the net” Pauly said. “Blocking her is hard because of how fast her arm is. And she’s got big celebrations. She’s a Mississippi girl and she loves volleyball and I think you kind of get to see her personality come out on the court.”
Mohler said she chose to play in Orlando because there was an instant connection between her and Pauly and she wanted to be close to her hometown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
“My first phone call with Amy went so well that I knew right away it was the best option for me,” Mohler said. “And then just continuing to meet the players that she had recruited to bring down here and just the environment that she was trying to create — I knew it was a perfect fit.”
The Valkyries players and staff have been the ultimate support system for Mohler since the injury.
“Everyone has just gone so (above) and beyond to make sure that I feel loved and supported,” Mohler said. “I really don’t think that I could’ve been in a better place for this to happen. I know that’s not the case everywhere — but people showing up at my door 20 times a day just to make sure I’m OK — it really shows what environment we have down in Orlando and the type of people that we have within the organization, so I’m just so thankful for that and those people.”
Mohler’s mom Kathy was also in Orlando for two full weeks after the operation.
“She was great,” Mohler said of her mom. “I’m really happy it happened in Florida because we could at least enjoy the sun while we were immobile.”
A full recovery from hip labral tear surgery could take six months, but Mohler expects to be completely healed by the end of July.
“They have me on the advanced protocol,” Mohler said. “And with how good the joint’s been feeling, I’m hoping that we’ll be able to expedite that process and get back as soon as possible. I’m just excited that I have such a great team supporting me. I’m ready to be back better than ever for next year.”