Injuries are part of sports. Even though it only took one moment for juniors Byron Dacy and Jessica Houts to tear their anterior cruciate ligaments, in that moment, an entire season was lost.
Dacy led the Creighton men’s soccer team in points and goals scored each of his first two years as a Bluejay. In 2007, he was on the Missouri Athlectic Club’s Herman Trophy Watch List, an award given to the best player in all of college soccer.
Houts was a second-team all-MVC selection in 2006, and was leading the Jays volleyball team in points per set, kills per set and blocks per set in 2007.
Both athletes were key parts to the planned success of their teams in 2007, but with only the blink of an eye, both plans had to be restructured.
Dacy tore the ACL in his left knee on Aug. 18, 2007, in an exhibition match against Ohio State. After trying to rehabilitate the knee without surgery for a month, his season was declared over on Sept. 18.
Houts tore her ACL during warm-ups prior to a match against Drake on Sept. 11, 2007.
“It’s definitely tough when you know you have to sit out the rest of the season,” Dacy said. “That’s why I chose to try rehab first.”
As tough as it is to have to sit on the sidelines and watch, Houts was able to stay positive and find a silver lining.
“At first, I was disappointed because I was turning out a great year,” Houts said. “But in hindsight, this injury will give me a chance to be here two more years and this program will be that much better.”
Both athletes were given a second chance at their junior years when they were granted medical redshirts, which are reserved for athletes who suffer season-ending injuries before playing in 30 percent of the team’s games.
“You always want to be out there,” Dacy said. “But the team played great without me and now I get another shot.”
That shot didn’t come easily for Dacy. Inflammation in his knee and a calf injury both caused delays in rehab. It was also a tough road back for Houts.
“There were times when it was difficult,” Houts said. “I tore my other ACL senior year in high school, and this process was slower.”
After all that rehab, both athletes are happy to be able to compete again.
“I just want to go out there and play,” Houts said. “Being out has made me appreciate the game of volleyball that much more, so I just want to give it everything I have.”
Through seven matches, Houts, who leads the team in kills and blocks per set, is picking up where she left off a year ago. Dacy, while easing back into things, recorded his first goal, since the injury, against Portland in a 3-0 win last Friday. The soccer team is undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the country in three of the major polls, and Dacy is again listed on the MAC Herman Trophy Watch List.
“Those things are nice, but we just want to get to the NCAA tournament,” Dacy said. “It’s all about the team and I’m just glad I can help out again.”