Ashleigh Crutcher
The Terrapins volleyball team has been plagued with injuries over the past few seasons. Outside hitter Mary Cushman has been playing with a torn rotator cuff since last year. Defensive specialist Kaitlyn King, setter Whitney Craigo and outside hitter Carlisle Abele have all suffered concussions this season.
But when asked about outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher’s recent injury in Thursday’s practice, coach Tim Horsmon was dumbfounded. The sixth-year coach turned to middle blocker Adreené Elliott, but she wasn’t sure of the diagnosis either.
“It’s kind of a freaky injury,” Horsmon said. “She was serving the ball and just kind of turned and breathed wrong. … She turned and the ribs separated from the cartilage or the muscle around it.”
Crutcher could miss up to six weeks after Thursday’s setback. The Terps struggled without her this past weekend at the Michigan Invitational, as they dropped matches to Ohio, Michigan and Marshall.
Horsmon’s voice dropped when describing the junior’s injury, and for good reason. The outside hitter was the key to the Terps’ offense, as her 119 kills led the team entering the tournament. Crutcher and Cushman made for a dangerous attacking combination around the net, leading the Terps to an 8-1 record before the weekend sweep.
The Terps struggled to manufacture that offensive efficiency in Michigan. They recorded a .161 hitting percentage, down from .304 in the second weekend of the Maryland Invitational on Sept. 13-14.
Elliott, who recorded 38 kills over the weekend, will move to outside hitter. The junior has been an imposing defensive presence in the middle for the Terps, blocking 33 attacks this season.
“I think she’s an All-American middle,” Horsmon said. “But we’re challenging her in different positions now because of some of the injuries we’ve had. We’re excited to see her respond to that.”
Elliott, though, is ready for the challenge. She started in all 32 matches last season while many of her teammates were relegated to the trainer’s table.
“It’s a different position for me,” Elliott said. “It’s a slower attack. But I’ve been coming in and doing extra reps before and after practice so I can prepare as much as I can and be what my teammates need me to be.”
Outside hitter Emily Fraik will also get more playing time. Fraik, who spent time with the USA Junior A1 Team this summer, played in Crutcher’s place this weekend and had 25 kills.
“I think we have a bunch of attackers that are ready to step up,” Cushman said. “It’s just whether or not they use the reps they get this week and improve their execution. I think we have enough girls; we just need someone to step up and take the opportunity to be on the court.”
Cushman, who carried the offensive load this weekend with 48 kills, has faced this situation numerous times during her career.
“We’re used to adversity,” Cushman said. “We’ve faced tons of it and we know how to respond. It’s just figuring out our game plan and executing this weekend.”
Crutcher may be gone for the foreseeable future and leave a significant void, but the Terps will have to deal with that as the season goes on.
“I’m not sure right away you jump out on the court and replace a kid like that,” Horsmon said. “They say it in the NFL all the time — it’s next man up. We’ve got to figure out ways to put people in positions to still do what we need to do win matches.”
