COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State University's women's volleyball team has been working hard for their 23-5 record. One of their players has overcome the odds and became the heart of the team.
The Ohio State volleyball team is wrapping up the season, ranked No. 10 in the country. Their motto “remember why” is inspired by one of their own.
Sarah Sue Morbitzer has always had a passion for volleyball.
“I looked up to so many players over the years, and I always wanted to be a Buckeye ever since I was little,” said Morbitzer. “I came to all the little spikers camps, and I was just inspired to be here and I worked so hard to get here.”
Steadfast and focused on her goal, Morbitzer became the first little spiker to secure a spot on the OSU women’s volleyball team. She joined the team her freshman year and was excited to build relationships with her new teammates. Although her heart was finally where it belonged, it physically couldn’t keep up with the team's training and conditioning routines.
At two days old, she was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart condition where the heart has to be reconstructed for better blood flow. Morbitzer was just four months old when she had her first open-heart surgery to build a wall between two of her arteries.
She had a second surgery to fix two of her heart valves and knew a third would have to happen one day. That day came in December of 2020.
“We went to the doctor and I kind of knew in the back of my mind that this was going to happen eventually to get the heart valve replacement,” said Morbitzer. “I just made the decision to just get it done so I can be better for my teammates and just be a better volleyball player overall.”
She worked with doctors from Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The doctors had to create a special valve that wasn’t approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but it would get her back on the court.
The OSU women’s volleyball head coach, Jen Flynn Oldenburg, made sure the team was with her every step of the way.
“I think the text messages, the video messages — we were sending as much as we can just so we know that we were here to support her,” said Oldenburg. “As she worked her way back into practice and competition, you know, we’re always here.”
Almost a year after her surgery, Morbitzer is back on the court and has helped her team become ranked No. 10 in the country. She said it feels good to be where she loves with the people she loves.
“It means everything to just be healthy and to just be with my teammates and the team, it means so much to me,” said Morbitzer. "I look forward to practicing every day and just being around them instantly makes my mood better.”
Morbitzer doesn’t see herself on an Olympic team but wants to become a cardiologist to help kids just like her.