MEMPHIS, TN. — There were moments last year when Alma Solis wondered if she would ever play volleyball again.
Now, every time No. 15 steps onto the court for Christian Brothers University, there is a little more meaning behind every swing, every block and every celebration.
A year ago, Solis was forced to watch from the sidelines as injuries cost her the entire volleyball season. For an athlete who had spent so much of her life competing, the toughest part wasn't simply dealing with the physical recovery. It was watching the game continue without her.
"It was really tough watching last year and not being able to play," Solis said.
At times, she even contemplated whether volleyball was still part of her future.
But Solis' story didn't stop when she stepped away from the court.
Finding Purpose Thousands of Miles Away
While working her way through a difficult chapter athletically, Solis pursued another passion: animals.
The CBU senior, who is in the university's pre-veterinary program and hopes to become a veterinarian, studied abroad in South Africa. Her experience included hands-on work around wildlife and animal care, giving her an opportunity to see a possible future beyond volleyball.
Solis worked alongside animal keepers, helped care for animals and gained experience with veterinary practices such as physical examinations and drawing blood.
Thousands of miles away from Memphis, she found herself outside of her comfort zone — and embracing it.
Her approach was simple.
"Jump out there and just do it. No harm in trying," Solis said.
It's something she tells herself, and something she encourages others to live by.
That mindset eventually followed her all the way back to Canale Arena.
No. 15 Is Back
This fall, Solis isn't watching anymore.
The 6-foot senior middle blocker from Naperville, Illinois, has returned to the CBU lineup and has already made her presence felt.
During CBU's early-season tournament at Southwest Baptist, Solis delivered one of her strongest performances with 11 kills and five blocks in a match. She later provided seven blocks during the CBU Patriot Day Classic, helping establish herself as a force at the net.
And when the Buccaneers closed the Patriot Day Classic with a straight-set victory over Miles, Solis contributed six kills and a block as CBU completed a 3-1 weekend on its home floor.
There have been other flashes, too. Against Southern New Hampshire, Solis put down three kills on eight attempts without an attacking error, good for a .375 hitting percentage in CBU's three-set victory.
Those numbers tell part of the story.
The rest can be found in everything it took for her to record them.
A season ago, Solis couldn't get on the floor. Now she's producing points, challenging hitters at the net and contributing meaningful minutes for the Buccaneers.
The comeback has also come with a new voice leading the program. Asked to describe her relationship with head coach Lashaunda Spurgeon, Solis didn't need a long explanation.
Two words were enough:
"Love her."
For Solis, this season isn't simply about making up for lost time. It's about appreciating an opportunity she once wasn't sure she would have again.
Volleyball won't be the end of her story. Her work in CBU's pre-veterinary program and her experience in South Africa have given her a vision for a future spent caring for animals.
And after spending an entire season wondering whether she'd ever get another chance, Alma Solis is doing exactly what she tells others to do.
She's jumping back out there.
Because there's no harm in trying.
