Kim Gowell is Back on the Court for BSU Volleyball

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- She had dealt with injuries before while playing volleyball, but nothing like what happened in the fall of 2023.

Kim Gowell (Durham, N.H.) was coming off a solid freshman season at Bridgewater State University in 2022 and was looking to improve in her sophomore year.

But Gowell was having problems with her left shin, an ailment that had bothered her for more than a year, and after playing in the first six games of the '23 season, she had to head to the sideline.

The diagnosis was a stress fracture in the left tibia, and Gowell went from being a leading outside hitter for the Bears to a spectator wearing a boot.

"I've struggled throughout my volleyball career with overuse injuries," said Gowell, a psychology major. "I've had carpal tunnel, torn muscles in my elbow, issues with my knee and ankles. I've dealt with a lot. But I'd never had a season-ending injury.

"From the start of freshman year to last year, I was playing on what I thought were shin splints. But it was a stress fracture that I was continually making worse and worse and worse. That summer before sophomore season, I was really preparing to come into the season great, but I was having a lot of pain.

"I came into the season and played a few games and literally couldn't take it anymore. I was doing rehab with the training department and it helped me a lot. But I wasn't in good shape and was out of the season."

Gowell spent the offseason, including the summer months right before training camp, working to get her leg stronger in order to avoid a stress fracture from occurring again.

And when Bridgewater State opened its 2024 season on Sept. 2 with a 3-0 home win over Anna Maria, Gowell was back in her familiar spot of outside hitter, helping secure the victory.

After missing a majority of the '23 season, the junior was thrilled to be back playing rather than just watching from the sideline.

"I can't say I've ever felt anything as good as that, especially having a good game with good energy like we did that day," said Gowell. "It was an electric energy on the court.

"I did a lot of rehab and strengthening, and I wasn't able to play this summer. I had to make it so I don't injure myself. I feel like I've strengthened a lot. I'm still having pain, but I feel like all the work I've put in gave me a good baseline to start the year off strong.

"The biggest thing is staying strong, the muscles and the calves, so I won't put much tension on the shins. I've got to stick to it."

Through seven matches, Gowell is leading the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference with 69 kills and is second with 2.65 per set. She also has a .206 hitting percentage and 10 blocks for BSU, which resumes its season Wednesday night, hosting Nichols College.

She was selected as the MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week on September 9th after tallying eight kills and four digs in the season-openng win over Anna Maria, as well as  32 kills, eight digs and four blocks (two solo) in three matches at the UMass Boston Invitational.

As a freshman, Gowell started 14 of 19 matches and was first with 121 kills, averaging 1.92 per set. Last season, she had 34 kills in limited playing time.

"We missed her last year," said coach Tony daSilveira Jr." It's a big difference with her back. With her, she's having games hitting over .200. When the ball's flying all over the gym, that's where the ball is going the most and we have someone who can jump up and hit it and if it's blocked she swings it off and gets the next one."

Gowell began playing volleyball in seventh grade in New Hampshire and was captain of Oyster River High as a senior.

She was looking at Bridgewater State, Stonehill College and Salve Regina to play volleyball, but a family connection helped her make the final decision.

Dr. Jean Warrington, a 1956 Bridgewater State graduate, is related to Gowell's grandmother and she let Gowell know about the school. Dr. Warrington, who went to graduate school in Michigan and earned a PhD., has the Warrington Twins Scholarship at BSU.

"I really liked the campus feel here," said Gowell. "When I took my first tour, I just loved the layout of the school and how it's in a small town.

"I grew up in a college town where (the University of New Hampshire) is. UNH is a school among a town where everything goes on. The Bridgewater campus feels like this is Bridgewater's campus. I really liked the feel of it."

Being on the sideline for most of last season gave Gowell a new perspective on the sport she has played at the club, high school and college level.

Gowell was there for all the team practices and games through the season. Her teammates sent her a card for encouragement and would check in on her.

"One thing I did learn that was a positive," said Gowell, "was mindset within myself and how to control my mental energy on the court and my emotions and how to be a good teammate.

"I was on the bench all the time and I would see everything happening in the games and my teammates would come to me and ask me things about the game. I was able to be a different type of teammate, which was really good for me.

"It was nice having them as a support system. Being an injured player, you feel like not as much part of the team, but you still matter. The input is there."

Now that she is back for a third season with the Bears, back as a starter, Gowell is enjoying and appreciating the game even more.

"Absolutely 100 percent," she said. "Every practice, I feel very grateful for the fact that I'm given the chance to be on a college sports team. A lot of people, it's the end of the road after high school. I'm grateful I get the chance to balance school and volleyball. I appreciate the game more.

"It's great being back. Volleyball's been a really important part of my life, how I keep myself level headed. It's always been a good outlet for me. Being on the court has transformed me as an individual and continues to.

"The player I am now in college is not the same as in high school. I used to be super tough on myself mentally. I used to get really angry when I'd make small errors. I still have moments like that. but I'm able to reflect and realize it's a team sport, I'm on the team and all the matters is how you bounce back if you mess up."