Saint Benilde’s title defense lies with the recovery of Ranya Musa
In the heat of the action between reigning NCAA women’s volleyball defending champions College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers and the Lyceum Lady Pirates last Tuesday, middle hitter Ranya Musa went for an open hit. However, as the central attacker went down, she landed awkwardly on her left leg.
Nonetheless, Musa continued playing on and was able to finish the match’s five sets, despite the struggle.
“Masakit po talaga siya, pero gusto ko po talagang manalo. Kaya po pag tinatanong ako nila coach kung kaya ko pa ba? Sabi ko, okay lang ako. Kaya ko pa,” she recalled.
After getting checked up the following day, the 19-year-old was advised to get magnetic resonance imaging on her left knee. It turned out to be an MCL sprain.
“Happy po ako na hindi siya [tear ng] ACL o MCL na injury. And sabi po ni doc, strengthening lang kailangan,” she said.
“About one week po na rest, tapos strengthening lang. Tapos dun po malalaman kung fully recovered na, at kung puwede na mag-training at maglaro.”
Strangely, Musa was subbed in during the fourth set of their latest match against the EAC Lady Generals to test her leg.
“Nung pinasok po ako, na-feel ko po na part pa rin ako ng team,” she shared. “Nung naglaro po ako, hindi ako makatalon ng maayos. May mali; tama sila na kailangan ko pa magpahinga.”
Recovery for an MCL sprain takes two to six weeks.
The third-year Lady Blazers stalwart is her team’s second leading scorer after team captain Jeanette Panaga, and is fourth overall in the league.
So far, Musa has 79 points off 63 attacks, 12 blocks, and four serves. The middle hitter also is an efficient attacker at 41 percent, which is third-best this season.
Musa hopes to recover in time for the crucial matches leading to the Final Four.
