Ashley Quero is a former Saint Leo University volleyball player. During her athletic career, she led the Lions in kills since her freshman year and helped them advance to the Elite 8 in 2019. Needless to say, Ashley was a big influence on the team from day one. She played all 4 years of her career and decided to take her Covid year because, in her own words, “I wanted to end my volleyball career with a real season. I also wasn't ready to leave my friends.” St. Leo also got some new coaches before her fifth year and Ashley was excited to meet them.

However, Ashley's optimism came to a halt when one day at practice the unthinkable happened: the team was running sprints and while Ashley was turning she heard a pop and immediately fell to the ground. 

Prior to that practice, Ashley had never been injured severely before so she assumed she was fine and that she was “just being dramatic.” After Ashley fell, she wanted to get up but the athletic trainers sternly told her not to. This confused her–why couldn't she get up? She felt fine and had no pain? Why were they acting like this was a big deal? Turns out it was–after a few moments, the athletic trainers carried her off the court to start their diagnosis and the results were clear: Ashley tore her achilles. 

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A few days later Ashley had her MRI appointment and the doctor confirmed the injury. There were so many other injuries that are more common and Ashley found herself asking “why did it have to be my Achilles?” This was the hardest part for her to cope with–her last year of volleyball was done in the blink of an eye. She never would have thought that her last time hitting a volleyball would actually be her last.

Since then Ashley had surgery and recovered. Looking back, she believes she handled “her emotions really well” because she took on the mindset that “these things are uncontrollable” and the only part she can control is the way she processes it and reacts. She says, “I decide to be positive every morning because I refuse to let this injury ruin my day!” When asked if she regrets taking her fifth year she said “Absolutely not.” She was surrounded by her best friends and everyone she loved every single day. “I wouldn't [have wanted] to be anywhere else,” she said of her senior season, injury and all. 

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When asked if Ashley had any advice for a senior in the same situation she said “think of all the amazing moments you've had playing this sport. You may be injured but you were still an amazing athlete that did great things.” She emphasizes putting trust in your athletic trainers and their recovery plan because you have to worry about your mental health. Ashley acknowledged that injuries are tough but “think positive thoughts because there is no reason to be negative over something that will not change.”
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* Originally published on October 4, 2022, by Anna Garrett