All signs pointed to 2025 as an enormous season for Casey Locker and the Academy at Palumbo girls volleyball team.
The Griffins were coming off a Public League championship and Locker had helped them capture it during an impressive sophomore season.
A summer of hard work and a lot of preparation had Locker feeling pretty good about her junior year. Then things turned on a dime while practicing in the preseason.
“I didn’t know it right away,” Locker said. “I went to hit the ball and I landed on one leg and my knee buckled out to the side. I wasn’t crying or anything. I really wasn’t sure what was wrong, so I walked home. But as the weeks went on, it wasn’t getting better so I decided to get an MRI.”
Locker discovered through test results that she had a full anterior cruciate ligament tear to her left knee and her volleyball season was over before it began. Even worse, with a 13-month recovery on deck, her senior season was in danger, too.
A more modern surgical procedure didn’t leave much wiggle room for Locker.
“The surgery that they performed was they took a piece of my quad tendon and made it my new ACL,” Locker said. “That type of surgery is newer and the results are better but the recovery is longer because you need to build the quad muscle back up.”
Locker took up crutches and began a long way back to the jumping, running and diving she had become so accustomed to. She started physical therapy multiple times a week and became a gym rat during her personal time.
“There were biometrics and quad strengthening,” she said. “Then I’d go to the gym on my own time. That would look like leg presses, quad extensions and I would do single-leg wall sits and balancing exercises. Then as I progressed, I would do single leg jumping and jumping onto boxes. And I also had to re-learn how to run.”
Locker’s perseverance led to physical clearance about a half-dozen games into the season. Finally, she took the court against Council Rock North on Sept. 18 in a limited role.
“It was nerve-wracking,” Locker said. “In the Council Rock game, I was put in to serve and I felt very nervous and excited. It was a really emotional thing to be able to come back.”
Prior to her injury, Locker was an outside hitter, which is a position that demands a high leaping ability. Locker eased her way back as a designated server and by digging a few balls on the back line.
“She works her butt off every day in practice and it’s all about building that confidence,” Griffins coach EJ Goldstein said. “She’s such a great teammate and she hasn’t demanded specific playing time. I think she’s just really learning to appreciate and be in the moment and just enjoy being with her teammates. And any time we can call on her in a game to serve, she’s ready to go.”
Palumbo has established itself as one of the top teams in the city, continuing a string of PPL final appearances last fall. The Griffins were also undefeated through Oct. 7 so Locker’s approach to potentially regaining a starting position was a mature one.
“I feel like everyone else worked really hard while I was working hard in a different way,” said Locker, who wants to study psychology in college next year. “When I came back, I didn’t expect to just jump right in and take someone’s spot who has been working equally as hard, if not harder than me. At the end of the day, I just want to support my team and all the girls on the court. I’m really happy for them because they are all amazing players.”
Most importantly, Locker was able to play alongside her teammates on Senior Night on Oct. 7. The long and difficult road back was celebrated with flowers, signs and speeches in front of friends and family. It was challenging to hold back the tears.
“It feels so rewarding to be back,” Locker said. “I feel like all of my hard work finally paid off. I’m honestly very proud of myself. And it feels so nice to be appreciated and I’m really happy I get to be back out on the court and play.”
Whether it’s serving a ball, digging an opposing shot or cheering from the bench, Locker’s presence makes the Griffins even better.
“I cried the first time that she served the ball earlier in the year,” Goldstein said. “Her demeanor, her positive energy and all of that just brings so much.”
Locker knows her number may be called as the Griffins pursue another PPL title.
“I feel good. I feel confident and I’m happy to be back,” Locker said. “I really missed being around the team and not being able to play. Being on the sidelines is still good, but being able to be on the court and contribute to the team is much different.”
