Brandy Magee was sitting on top of the world going into the 2006 season.
She had proved herself as a premier middle blocker after being named an All-American and was heading into her senior season with a Texas team that had a realistic shot at a national title.
When the Longhorns took the court for the first time in 2006 against Wisconsin in front of a rowdy home crowd, Magee's final season appeared to be right on track.
That was until a knee injury derailed it.
"My first thought was, 'Oh no! I hope everything is OK,'" Magee said. "I really didn't know what the extent of my injury was, and I tried to walk it off."
Unfortunately, she suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee and would be sidelined for the rest of the season.
"We were so bummed when it happened," then-junior libero Alyson Jennings said. "I can't imagine being a senior and thinking it's your last season, and then that happening to you."
While suffering a season-ending injury in the first game of any sport is one of a player's worst fears, Magee's could not have come at a better time.
"I'm glad, as bad as it sounds, that it happened earlier on," Magee said.
Since she suffered the injury in the first game, Magee received a medical redshirt and was given the opportunity to have a second senior year of sorts in 2007. She spent last season rehabilitating and took on a supportive role for her teammates, who advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1998.
"It was always hard to sit back and watch on the sidelines," Magee said. "That was an adjustment I had to make, but I learned I could do other things to help out the team. I was a good cheerleader."
Just because she wasn't on the court every week didn't mean her teammates had forgotten about her.
"My team helped me out a lot during that time," Magee said. "They were always there to keep me included, and I never felt like I was off by myself."
With the injury behind her and a fresh season unfolding, she has her eyes set on another national championship run, and this may be the team to get there. Texas has added several dominant pieces to the team and Magee finds herself as the most experienced player.
Going into tonight's match at Nebraska, the Longhorns hope she can repeat her performance the last time she faced the Cornhuskers. Magee had her best match of 2005 scoring 22 kills and leading Texas to an upset over Nebraska in Austin.
Aside from leading Texas on the court once again, the Texas all-time leader in hitting percentage's recovery from the injury has also left an impact on her teammates.
"It gives me inspiration to go hard every day at practice, just because any time could be your last time to play," Jennings said. "It can be taken away so fast."
But sometimes second chances happen. And with Magee, it may be for the better.
"I'm so proud of her," Jennings said. "It's so cool to have her back. I think it's a blessing in disguise."
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