The last year and a half of Iowa volleyball middle hitter Anna Davis’s life has been challenging, both physically and mentally.

The 6-foot-1 Castle Rock, Colorado, native tore her left ACL on Feb. 22, 2022, and had surgery to repair the tear and some other minor issues in the knee on March 15, 2022.

About two months into the 2022 season, Davis was relearning how to jump and run, and her doctors were pleased with how fast she was recovering.

At the beginning of spring training this year, Davis was finally cleared to get back on the court, but Iowa volleyball head coach Jim Barnes said she still wasn’t at her highest potential.

Davis said when she finally got back on the court in the spring, she was relieved. During her recovery process, Davis had doubts if she would ever get back to the player she once was, but stepping out on the court again made her realize ‘Oh, I can still do this.’

With the season-opener just days away on Aug. 25, Davis is fully recovered and prepped for a big season. Barnes said Davis is the most exciting player for the coaches to watch in the gym right now.

“That kid is the hardest-working student-athlete I’ve ever coached,” Barnes said about Davis at media day on Aug. 19. “She is just back to where she was and even better. We couldn’t be more happy and proud at the way she’s playing right now.”

While sitting out last season, Davis had to learn how to use her voice and lead her teammates from the sidelines.

Davis said this was a tough process, but one she is thankful for because it gave her a new perspective on how to play her position and how the whole team can better communicate and work together on the court.

Senior setter Bailey Ortega said it was no surprise to her or any of her teammates how Davis responded to her injury and recovery process.

Ortega added that the whole team respects Davis as a player, but more importantly as a person.

This is a big reason why Davis was voted a team captain by her Hawkeye teammates for the second consecutive season. She joins two other captains in senior middle hitter Delaney McSweeney and Texas State transfer Caitlan Buettner.

“All we’ve talked about with Anna is how strong she is,” Ortega said. “Throughout the whole process, she never stopped leading the team or putting her all into everything she was doing.”

Davis said the team chemistry is unmatched this season, despite nine newcomers, and she is excited to see their hard work pay off and hopefully come out toward the top of the Big Ten.

Along with Buettner, Iowa added Denver transfer Maddy Hanson and Nataly Moravec from BYU. The freshmen class includes outside hitters Emily Lavin, Alyssa Worden, and Gabby Deery, middle hitter Rosa Vesty, setter Kaia Mateo, and libero Olivia Lombardi.

“This has been a great group, it’s been seamless,” Davis said. “It doesn’t feel like the transfers are new people, it feels like we’ve been together forever.”