Mary Shepherd '17
Santa Clara Broncos (SCU) caught up with sophomore outside hitter Madison Dutra (MD) to find out how her recovery from ACL surgery is going. She talks about her rehabilitation routine and looks forward to getting back on to the court in early August.
SCU: Everyone calls you "Doots". How did you get that nickname, "Doots"?
MD: I went by Maddy until about eighth grade. There was another Maddy on my club volleyball team so my trainer gave me the name Doots. Everyone in high school called me Doots - friends, teachers, coaches. It just seems to fit. My parents and professors are the only people that don't call me Doots. But it feels weird being called anything else.
SCU: You are on the road to recovery from an ACL injury you suffered in November, 2014. What is your rehab routine and where are you in your recovery?
MD: Rehab is going really well. It's been five months since I had surgery and my physical therapist is working me out very hard. At this phase in the recovery I am focusing on strength training and agility. Hopefully within the next month I will be able get on the court. My goal is to be back 100% by preseason in early August.
SCU: What are you most looking forward to about getting back on the court?
MD: Where do I even begin? I've learned a lot about myself. This whole process has made me realize how blessed I am to play the sport I love at the highest level. It's easy to go through the motions of your sport, but when it's all taken away from you, it really puts things in perspective. I've grown a lot as a person in terms looking at things big picture, but with that said, focusing on getting better and stronger one day at a time. Also this might sound really cliché, but getting through an injury is a whole lot better with a good attitude. Staying positive with myself has been a huge struggle but it's made me a lot stronger.
SCU: You said you learned a lot about yourself in the last five months, going through the rehab. Can you expand on that?
MD: I can't wait to put on a pair of knee pads. The thing I miss most is competing. I miss the team chemistry and the energy that's in the gym when everyone is going full speed. I'm honestly just excited to play the game and be back out there with my team.
SCU: You had a team meeting this week to discuss our team values and goals. Tell us a little bit about the team's goals for this spring and fall.
MD: Everything we do this spring is going to get us one step closer to our main goal, which is to win the West Coast Conference Championship. Another goal of ours is to make it further in the tournament and reach the Sweet 16. We are in the middle of reevaluating our team values. Things we are emphasizing are accountability, team first mentality and grit! We are also really excited to be playing in a spring tournament at USF in the next couple of weeks.
SCU: What are your plans for the summer?
MD: I will be living up here for the summer. I definitely will be taking weekend trips back home to San Diego, but I want to spend my time up here focusing on my rehab and doing everything I possibly can to get back on the court. I am also hoping to take a class and find a part-time job.
