As I sit on press row at the Convocation Center and watch the women’s volleyball games, I am amazed.

How do they put the players put their bodies through so much every game?

The answer to that isn’t a difficult one. It all comes down to dedication and mental toughness, which are needed in every sport.

"It takes toughness to play this sport," NIU libero Melissa Benson said. "You need that in any sport. Volleyball isn’t as easy as people think it is. Motivation from yourself and your teammates is what keeps you going."

In my opinion, Benson and other back row players put themselves through the most.

These players have a role on the team to basically save any ball by diving or lunging toward it with only the protection of a pair of kneepads.

And what do these players have to show for their hard work?

Floor burns, bumps and bruises.

"We get banged up and bruised a lot," Benson said. "The ankles, knees and shoulders are where most of the injuries affect."

Through her years of playing volleyball, Benson has hyperextended her wrist, pulled an occasional muscle, had shin splints and tendinitis in both knees.

She says the constant pressure takes a toll on the body and that front row players on the team usually suffer from injured shoulders and knees.

Outside hitter Tera Lobdell was forced to sit out four matches this season after she landed on a teammate’s foot in practice and sprained her left knee.

An occasional concussion is also within the realm of possibility. Last season NIU lost one of its defensive specialist/back row players to numerous concussions. And this season Shara Parker and Jenny Rohren have experienced slight concussions of their own.

Now do these injuries seem different from any other sport? No. But did anyone actually think that volleyball players were susceptible to taking such a beating? I didn’t until I covered my first game last year.

"People have run into one another out there," NIU coach Ray Gooden said. "I’ve seen players get injured that way, but there are a lot of different aspects to setting up plays on a serve and on an attack that the players don’t really think about it when they are out there."

Volleyball is like any other sport. Injuries take place. And sometimes we as spectators sit back and wonder why athletes put themselves through so much.

Over the past two seasons I have seen players take the court with knee braces. I have seen some enter the gym with their wrists’ wrapped. I have even witnessed a player play days after suffering a concussion. Not to mention the handful of times I’ve seen the players walking around with their knees iced up.

It all comes down to dedication and winning. A little over a year after watching my first volleyball match, I have come to the conclusion that the players know that most injuries will heal, but pride sticks forever.