The Sunday final (December 22) in the NCAA volleyball championship is slated to be exceptional for multiple reasons. Since the emergence of the contest in the 1980s, it will be the first edition to field two women coaches in countering each other. Both coaches of the teams, Penn State and Louisville Volleyball, have the experience of winning the title as players. But it will be the first time one of them will take the trophy as the winning coach. Lots of records, no? Now in this battle of two women coaches, both have seemed concerned about one particular woman, Anna DeBeer. How?

On Friday, right after the match against the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Cardinals’ coach, Dani Busboom Kelly, commented big on Anna DeBeer’s injury in the match. She looked hopeful about Anna’s return to the final game on Sunday. But later, her comments changed. In the post-match press conference, DBK said, “If there’s any inkling she can play, she’s the type of kid that’s going to get out there and play.” Yet she left a question mark, saying, “But we won’t know more until tomorrow.” The confirmed news has yet to come. But in the meantime, the Penn State coach’s comment arrived. 

Just right after bagging the ticket for the NCAA volleyball championship final, coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley sat with the media. In the conference, ultimately, Anna DeBeer’s topic came up. After all, the senior has all the reasons to claim the headlight. Katie knows her impact well. So, before the much-anticipated final, she looked cautious about Anna’s presence in the opposite camp. She eventually laid out, “I hope she’s okay, and she’s a fierce competitor that I know if she is able to go, she will play. You know, being a senior and being here in Louisville, I think if she has the ability to compete, she will.” Katie Schumacher-Cawley’s concern has the justification as the Sunday final is set in Louisville, where the local team will contest the game. Being a native of Louisville, Anna DeBeer wouldn’t want to miss the game. But how serious is the injury? That may take us back to Thursday night.

On Thursday, during the semifinal match against the Panthers, Anna DeBeer already scored 16.5 points before leaving the court. Things took a sudden change in the fourth set only. During the set, she collided with Phekran Kong, and her right foot took the hit. She couldn’t control herself and faced a fall just under the net. The suddenness of everything made DeBeer imagine the worst-ever outcome, leaving her last collegiate match at a critical point because of her injury. 

Soon, Anna DeBeer was seen leaving the court with the help of staffers, keeping her arms around their shoulders, avoiding putting her right foot on the ground. That sent shockwaves into the Cardinals’ camp. Everyone looked concerned, thinking about the depth of the captain’s injury. Later, DeBeer came to the bench, wearing a boot. Payton Petersen took her place on the court, and her consecutive aces helped the Cardinals seal the game against the ACC archrival. The victory made Louisville settle the score against the Panthers after facing two losses from them in the regular season. Doesn’t Katie know all these things, the prompt substitution in the Cardinals’ squad? 

Well, the veteran coach knows every detail. That’s why she doesn’t want to take the opponent lightly, despite Anna DeBeer’s uncertainty. In the press conference, that idea of hers led her to say, “If she’s not, I know they’ll still compete hard and have a couple of other leaders on the floor there that will, you know, push them and will them to do their job.” Phekran Kong also had a similar mindset. Just right after winning the battle against the Pitts, the senior said, “There’s another reason to win this match. For her.” But will everything be the same if Anna DeBeer doesn’t show up in court on Sunday? 

Anna DeBeer is the “security blanket” of the Louisville Cardinals 

In the last four years, the Cardinals have reached the NCAA volleyball championship semifinal three times. Every time, two players headlined—Elena Scott and Anna DeBeer. Now, both of these foundational players are in their last collegiate run. Scott, among the two, is fortunately up and running. But what will happen to Anna? Will she make a comeback just as she did in 2019? 

Notably, in 2019, Anna DeBeer had almost a similar experience before Assumption’s State Championships match. Her left foot was injured, and she couldn’t even walk properly before the game. But on the penultimate day, DeBeer played the match and helped her side to win. That’s what she is—a fighter. Will such a player miss the last and most vital collegiate match of her career? Well, her coach called her the “security blanket” right after she won the ACC Player of the Year in 2023. Now, when an ACC squad has the chance to win the NCAA volleyball title, will one of the best names of the ACC let the chance go of performing in the penultimate game? Lots of things are at stake now. Do you have any view of it?