Long Beach State University Athletics
Hochevar: Determination Uncut
7/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
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Hochevar: Determination Uncut LONG BEACH - When Brittany Hochevar takes the court this weekend with teammate Holly McPeak at the AVP Long Beach Open, observers should be impressed with her quick moves to the net and strong jumps into the air. Just six months ago, she was dragging her left leg like a duffle bag stuffed with sand, and her volleyball career was in jeopardy. The former Long Beach State star was forced off the tour at midseason last year with severe back pain and weakness in her left leg. She underwent extensive tests that revealed an eight-millimeter bulging disc in her back and a 19-millimeter fracture near the sciatic nerve that was causing the weakness in her leg. She saw several doctors, all of whom suggested surgery. Hochevar's greatest strength when she was a 49er All-American, when she played on two Final Four teams and the 2001 squad that began the season 34-0, was her determination and perseverance, so no one doubted she could overcome this obstacle. It's the way she overcame it impresses. She chose not to have surgery
and instead underwent a complete mental, physical and emotional overhaul
of her life, choosing alternative treatments and cures so she could return
to the tour without anyone taking a knife "Things were very clear to me," she said after a workout Monday. "I didn't want someone cutting on my lifeline, my spinal cord. I did my research and learned that most people who have back surgery usually end up back under the knife at some time, and I didn't want to start that cycle. "So I surrounded myself with people who thought I could help me overcome this without surgery, and it was an awesome experienced. I know what rock bottom feels like, and I got out and feel better than ever." The process was as difficult as any regime one could imagine. She began with anti-inflammatory and pain medications to deal with the pain of her rehab workouts. She hated the pill cocktails so much that she would take three epidurals to deal with the pain and allow her more energy for her rehab. She dropped 20 pounds in six weeks to lessen the strain and improve her functions. She had hyperbaric oxygen therapy and regular visits with a chiropractor, acupuncturist, and full body healer. She tried imagery healing and meditation sessions. She said what helped as much as anything was a series of Pilates workouts with Kerry Wachtfogel in Manhattan Beach. "I had to re-teach my body how to move and jump," she said. "What I learned was that cells reproduce every 90 days, so you essentially have a new body every three months. I took full advantage of that. "It's always been tough to keep myself in check. I'm pretty gnarly when it comes to my workouts. I've always been a `I want to win and right now' type and have never been one to let myself off the hook. "So I had to learn what I called aggressive patience. And it worked. Five months ago, I could barely walk and couldn't do a toe raise. Now I feel like I have an advantage when I go on the court, because when I look across the net at my opponent I can say `you have no idea what I've been through."' Hochevar was a team leader at Long Beach State. Those who attended the 2001 final against Stanford, the 49ers' only loss of the season, can't help but remember how crestfallen Hochevar was after the loss. She fought back to earn All-American honors in 2002. She always thought she would eventually transition to beach volleyball, but first wanted to satisfy an Olympic indoor dream. She was named to the U.S. National Team and was one of the last cuts for the 2004 Olympic squad, serving as an alternate. "I absolutely thought I should have made the team, but I had an identity crisis because I could play different positions, and that became a bit of a curse," she said. "I was on all these depth charts at different positions and it wound up costing me." She was planning to maintain the dream through the 2008 Olympics but decided to walk away when USA Volleyball didn't give the new head coaching job to Arie Selinger, the respected coach of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team that won a silver medal, and one of the finest and hard-working coaches in the sport. "When they gave the job to Jenny Ping, I found it hard to swallow," she said. "A Chinese volleyball legend coaching the U.S. team in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing? It just didn't seem right. I felt like USA Volleyball wasn't committed to being a medal contender in 2008. "I have a lot of passion in my goals and I felt like they were being corrupted." That led her to the beach. She competed on the Brazilian circuit for a year to prepare for the AVP and this year, she has finished in the top-16 eight of ten times. She has finished as high as seventh. She teamed with Lauren Fendrick seven times and Keao Burdine three before getting a phone call two weeks ago. It was Holly McPeak who wanted Hochevar to become her partner, which is sort of like Bill Gates asking you to join the Microsoft team. McPeak is one of the greatest players in women's history and she's served as a mentor for a half-dozen young stars over the years. "You don't say no to an opportunity like that," Hochevar said, even though she was very sensitive to leaving Burdine. "I was thrilled to death. Holly is the top of the tour. She has so much experience and I'm learning a lot already. I'm very thankful. "Playing AVP has been a blast. It fits me. I love to train and I love the beach but enjoy it much more without the regime. I have my own workout regime now that has worked for me and it's great not having someone tell you to go squat more in the weight room. "It's really exciting to be back home, too. The moment I walked off a plane (from her hometown in Denver) and arrived at Long Beach State, the city was home to me, and no matter what realm I'm in, this is home. It's going to be so much fun to play this weekend." |
