The historic 2024 NCAA final saw Katie Schumacher-Cawley become the first female coach to win the NCAA Championship title. However, on the flip side of the Penn State coach’s success, a tragedy unfolded for Louisville volleyball. Despite showing incredible tenacity to make it to the finals, all Louisville’s star outside hitter could do was watch from the sidelines.

The Cardinal’s biggest star, Anna DeBeer, led her team to a hard-fought victory against Pitt in the semis. Unfortunately, the win came at too steep a cost, as DeBeer sustained an ankle injury she couldn’t recover from. Unable to play in the finals, the Louisville native couldn’t control her tears after the final against Penn State. Little did she know that another injury would also derail her pro debut.

The Indy Ignite had picked up DeBeer during the 2024 PVF Draft in November. However, just as the 25-year-old thought she could return to the volleyball court, another injury took her out. While the Ignite didn’t disclose exactly what happened, DeBeer’s debut got postponed indefinitely, but that is finally about to change. That’s because Anna DeBeer uploaded a TikTok of herself at practice.

Unfortunately, the volleyball star found out that two months without practice has made her rusty. “The reality of knocking 2 months of rust off + returning from injury,” wrote the athlete from Louisville as she struggled to keep the ball clear of the net. Anna DeBeer practiced her spikes wearing a black ankle brace, but quickly found out that she needed to dust off her skills.

DeBeer’s spike bounced off the net and back toward her side of the court, prompting the realization that she needed to put in quite a few hours of practice before returning to the court. In fact, the four-time All-American was even sarcastic about it in the caption. “We’ve all been blocked by the tape before, right?” asked DeBeer, knowing very well that she wasn’t just another player. However, despite the hopeful post, the plan is still unclear.

When will the volleyball make her pro debut?

While fans were delighted to see Anna DeBeer back at practice, two things sparked concern. The ankle brace pretty much confirmed that the same injury that ended her college volleyball career has become a thorn in the 25-year-old’s side. While the ankle brace was an indication that she may not be back to full strength, the timid spike confirmed that possibility.

DeBeer may be only testing how much her ankle can take. Indy Ignite’s latest post about the volleyball star was about her absence on February 8th. “Indy Ignite’s Anna DeBeer will miss the match on February 8th due to injury,” they wrote. “Wishing Anna a speedy recovery as she works hard to get back on the court!” they added. The team had shared a similar post right before their season opener on January 11.

While TikTok proves that DeBeer is indeed working hard to return, fans don’t even have a tentative date. “Is there a timetable for when Anna will be back?” a fan commented on the Ignite’s post, but didn’t get an answer. Unfortunately, the Louisville native has also remained tight-lipped about the recovery, leaving fans with nothing more than speculation. However, despite being a reality check for DeBeer, the rookie pro’s latest post has ignited some hope among the fans.