Anna DeBeer makes feelings known as she reflects on representing Louisville Cardinals for one last time at the NCAA Championships amid injury

Anna DeBeer recently expressed her feelings after representing the Louisville Cardinals for one last time at the NCAA Volleyball Championships. The 23-year-old outside hitter, who had joined the Louisville Cardinals in 2021, missed the Championship finals due to an ankle injury.

DeBeer uploaded a photo with her team on her Instagram story. She captioned the post as,

"No words for how much this team means to me"

Screengrab of Anna DeBeer's Instagram story [Image Source : Anna DeBeer's Instagram]

In an interview to the ESPN after the semifinals, De Beer revealed that her injury made her miss out on a chance to secure the NCAA Championships. She said,

"I knew right when it happened that I was probably done. "I'd have done anything to be out there. That's the hardest part."

Anna DeBeer was all to represent her college team for the last time against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the finals. However, a twist in the ankle during the semifinals against the Pittsburgh Panthers ruined it all. The absence of DeBeer cost the Cardinals hard as they lost out to the Nittany Lions in the finals by a margin of 1-3. The Nittany Lions won the NCAA Championships after more than a decade.

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Anna DeBeer on the loss to Penn State in the NCAA finals

Anna DeBeer in action at the NCAA Championships [Image Source : Getty]

Anna DeBeer was deeply affected by the loss of Louisville Cardinals in the finals of the NCAA Championships. In an interview after the finals, the outside hitter revealed how she felt. In her words,

“It's very unfortunate, just the situation with my injury, and it just seemed like all the stars were aligning for such a perfect game in Louisville, finishing my career. We worked so freaking hard all year to get where we are, and it was just so close. So, I think that's what's really hard.”

However, DeBeer applauded the players for not losing courage. She also praised Payton Petersen, who had stepped in her as her replacement. DeBeer added further,

“But I'm so extremely proud of just the way everyone fought tonight and the way Payton Petersen, as a freshman, took on such a hard role. I'm just so proud of the way she went in and did what she needed to do. We just said it wasn't our best day; it wasn’t always going our way, but that second set showed the fight that our team has in us. But I would have done anything to be out there, and that's the hardest part.”

Anna DeBeer had joined the Cardinals in 2021, when they had first entered the semifinals of the NCAA Championships. The outside hitter had contributed in several major victories for the Cardinals, including their semifinal victory against the Pittsburgh Panthers, before the ankle injury pulled her out of contention.