Greenbrier West libero Natalie Agee was like any other athlete heading into their senior year.
However, the excitement and anticipation of her final volleyball season as a Cavalier were quickly replaced by uncertainty and Covid confusion, leaving her wondering about far more than high school sports.
“We started practicing at 6 a.m. at the beginning of the summer. It was hard work, but we did it every year, so we were used to it,” Agee said. “We were all really excited for the season because we got some new players and had almost everybody back. We felt like we were going to have a better rotation than last year.”
After an opening season match at Independence, however, the volleyball world at Greenbrier West turned chaotic.
“We got shutdown two or three times and that really took part of our spirit away. We were working to try and get that back, but then we lost a player to Covid. Another player got sick and went in the hospital and then I got sick and went into the hospital.”
Initially Agee was not concerned thinking her body aches were do to her body being out of alignment.
“I just thought my hips were out. Then I got a temperature. They had me Covid tested and I tested positive. It just seemed like a normal case for a little bit and I seemed to get better,” Agee explained.
Simple body aches turned it a serious situation that required extensive medical attention.
“Then all of a sudden it attacked my (gastrointestinal area). I started throwing up. I was super dehydrated and couldn’t keep anything down. I didn’t look good and I had to go to the hospital,” Agee said. “They put fluids in me and I was still throwing up. I threw up blood and that is when they decided to transfer me to Charleston. They gave me medication to help me keep stuff down and I eventually I got better.”
Although she was making progress, getting back on the volleyball court was a huge mountain yet to climb.
“After I got back, I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t realize how much of a toll it actually had taken on my lungs. I couldn’t walk down the road. I couldn’t walk up the steps without getting out of breath,” Agee explained. “At that point I didn’t think I was going to be able to play volleyball this year. I didn’t think I would get back and there was a point where I thought I was going to give up. My parents made we walk up and down my road until I got stronger again.”
Just over a month later and finally feeling back to 100 percent, Agee was on the floor this past Saturday night when her team grinded out a thrilling five-set marathon victory against James Monroe to secure a spot in the state volleyball tournament this weekend.
“Every year I have been here, we have gone to states. I was on the back row thinking we were going to lose and it would be the first year we didn’t make it to states.,” Agee said, laughing. “After we made it, I was just so thankful that we were going to be going to states again this year.”
Agee and the Cavaliers will open state tournament play Friday at 8:30 a.m. against Gilmer County at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
“Natalie means a lot to this team. She is the one that runs our defense and she is an amazing libero for us.” Greenbrier West head coach Cindy Nutter said. “It is really great to have back and healthy.”
