SAN ANTONIO — On Thursday, UTSA volleyball squad member Brooke Hirsch officially announced her medical retirement following three seasons with the Roadrunners.
Following multiple procedures, Hirsch made the difficult decision to retire medically, stating, "Playing the game of volleyball has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. With a heavy heart, I am announcing my medical retirement from the game. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to play volleyball for the most amazing fans here at UTSA the past three years. I will forever be grateful to have worked with such amazing coaches that have impacted my life in such a positive way. To coach Carol Price-Torok and (former assistant) coach Dominique Gonzalez-Tomlin, you have taught me so much on and off the court, and I appreciate the support and inspiration you gave me to overcome challenges while always believing in me. To the training and medical staff, thank you for your relentless support and dedication. I couldn't have continued competing without your encouragement and hard work. You've been instrumental in my journey. To my teammates, thank you for all the wonderful memories. I will miss the time we spent together, but I look forward to cheering you on! To my family, thank you for the unconditional love and support you have given me. You have made it easy for me to follow my dreams, and I look forward to starting a new chapter in my life while always striving to make you proud of me."
Hirsch saw action for the 'Runners across the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, appearing in 43 sets as a defensive specialist and recording 57 digs before injuries cut each season short. A UCL tear halted her freshman year, and subsequent thoracic outlet syndrome sidelined her sophomore campaign and kept her off the court as a junior.
"Brooke has been a real trooper throughout this whole process," said coach Price-Torok. "She's always attacked everything with a positive attitude, and when sidelined, did whatever she could to help the team, from shagging balls to being our biggest cheerleader … I am incredibly grateful to Brooke for helping lay the foundation for this program and to our medical staff for helping and working with her throughout this journey… She will forever be a part of our Roadrunner family!"
At UTSA, Hirsch will continue pursuing a bachelor's degree in marketing, with a projected graduation date of May 2025.
Keep up with UTSA Volleyball on goutsa.com, and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSAVBall, Twitter @UTSAVolleyball, and on Instagram @utsa_vb.
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