The 2007 season was supposed to be her breakout year. After an impressive sophomore campaign, outside hitter Lindsey Steele was set to become a major contributor to the volleyball team.
Instead she tore the lateral meniscus in her left knee in the season opener against Stony Brook and spent the rest of the year on the sidelines, forcing her into a spectator role as her teammates dominated the Big Sky Conference and won the regular season title.
“I instantly knew I did something, because I couldn’t even jump,” Steele said. “I couldn’t move. It felt really strained. I couldn’t bend my knee more than 90 degrees.”
Steele, 21, said the experience was isolating, and it forced her to find other ways to stay involved with the team.
“It’s just really tough when you’re injured. You have to get more involved in things, hanging out or when there’s a game going on, if you see something, telling them what you see,” she said. “It’s lonely.”
By spring Steele was feeling better–not 100 percent, but getting there–and was starting to miss playing.
“I think it made me get more fire to play and appreciate it more,” Steele said. She said the time spent recovering allowed her to view the game from a different perspective.
“I got to learn the game from an outsider point of view. That definitely helped me. It made me focus and come out with more intensity,” she said.
Libero Jalen Pendon-Thomas said the team missed Steele’s competitive edge and all-around game.
“She definitely brings intensity,” Pendon-Thomas said. “She’s just a really good all-around player. She brings intensity and heart.”
For all that Steele brings to the Vikings, they nearly missed out on signing her. While in high school she visited Cal State Northridge and Boise State, but ultimately was swayed by the city life Portland affords, the roster and the coaching staff.
“I loved the team, a lot. Some of the older vets that already left. I love Portland, the city. I just connected way better in this place than any other,” Steele said.
After a grueling recovery process, the Loveland, Colo., native made a full recovery in time to reconnect with her team for the 2008 season and has produced outstanding numbers for the 11-3 squad.
Steele leads the team with 126 kills and is second in digs with 178. Her 11 service aces thus far is third best on the team that sits atop the conference standings after four games.
“Having a solid presence in the back row defensively, she’s become our anchor in the back court, for sure,” said head coach Michael Seemann. “She provides a great amount of stability on the first contact and is a great option offensively out of the back row.”
Seemann described Steele as a hard-working gym rat who enjoys getting her reps in practice.
“It’s her ability to come here and work hard and physically overpower a lot of us,” he said of Steele’s intensity. “In that regard it forces everybody to work hard to control her.”
While she was initially tentative during the recovery process, Steele said she soon regained her confidence and dominating physical style.
“Our coaches prepare us well. In the spring I was a little more nervous than now. We played live against other teams [during spring],” she said. “The only time I was like, whoa, was when I had my first home match here. It was my first home match in over a year and a half.”
Nique Fradella, the team’s junior setter, said Steele has returned stronger than she expected.
“I haven’t seen the injury affect her at all,” Fradella said. “After last year, a knee injury that takes you out the whole season is a big deal and she’s come back even better than I expected.”
Fradella said that Steele’s return is important because of the intangibles she brings to the team.
“Lindsey’s a great teammate. She’s always encouraging and she’s always looking for the positive things. She keeps everybody on their toes on the court,” Fradella said.
Lindsey Steele’s career statistics
20052.5 kills per game1.96 digs per game10 starts
20062.43 kills per game2.36 digs per game37 service aces27 starts
2007DNP-Knee injury
20082.47 kills per game3.49 digs per game11 service aces14 starts