UAAP: Mixed emotions for Milena Alessandrini in UST return after ACL injury

UST returning player Milena Alessandrini (center). – UAAP PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines -After recovering from an ACL injury, Milena Alessandrini had mixed emotions as she finally returned to the court in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.

Four years after tearing the ACL in her left knee, Alessandrini made a comeback as the University of Santo Tomas lost to La Salle in five sets in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“Actually I have mixed emotions because I haven’t played for a long time,” said the Filipino-Italian spiker.

Alessandrini finished with 10 points in the Tigresses’ 20-25, 25-16, 8-25, 25-15, 14-16 loss to the Lady Spikers – her first game since 2019.

The 25-year-old spiker, who suffered a knee injury in Season 81 and missed action during the league’s pandemic return last year, offered his return to the people who supported him after going through many ups and downs.

“It was very difficult after the first operation my knee didn’t improve, so I had to have a second operation. I had a lot of ups and downs,” Alessandrini said. “When I came here, I started playing volleyball again since I stopped in 2019 it was a very long and very difficult journey. But I have to say that many people helped me, supported me, especially [in days I doubted myself].”

This UST player who graduated is looking to add more to help the team. He made the final touch in the fourth set to force a decider and scored four in the fifth to keep his team at 11 all before committing a crucial service error that put La Salle on match point, 15-14, followed by Eya. Wrong attack Laure.

“This is the first game, so I have to improve a lot, especially mentally, mind and face everything [challenges this] season,” he said.

UST KungFu coach Reyes praised Alessandrini for his determination to finish what he started when he played in the last 2018 UAAP.

“We are very lucky that he is back. He wants to finish what he started,” Reyes said.

Reyes hopes Alessandrini will be fully recovered and in top form before the end of the first half.

“His attack has not been loaded. We are working on it every day. Hopefully, he will be able to stay at the speed of the game. The important thing now is how he defends the net and how he plays defense in the back row. That will be his edge,” said the coach UST.

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