Wednesday, January 23, 2002
[ VOLLEYBALL ]
The word spread quickly in the international volleyball community. Two members of the Metodo Minetti Vicenza team had been in a horrific car accident while returning home from an Italian professional league match Monday night. Ah Mow injured in accident
The former UH star and a teammate
are recovering in an Italian hospitalStar-Bulletin staff
Both setter Robyn Ah Mow, an All-American at Hawaii, and teammate Iskra Mijalic were thrown from the car which Ah Mow was driving following a match in Jesi, Italy. Police suspect that icy road conditions led to the accident that totaled the car.
Initially, it was believed that Ah Mow had incurred the more severe injuries, which included a concussion and extensive bruising. However, Mijalic was found to have fractured the top vertebra in her spine; doctors who performed surgery at the Vicenza Hospital said the Croatian national came within a centimeter of being paralyzed.
Ah Mow's condition has improved markedly over the past 24 hours and she is expected to be released tomorrow or Friday. Her parents, Lovina and Talmadge, left Honolulu and were expected in Italy sometime today.
Doctors said that Ah Mow will be able to resume playing in a few weeks. According to a team news release, Mijalic will remain hospitalized for another week or so and may be able to return to the team in a year.
Angelica Ljungquist, a former Wahine teammate of Ah Mow who is also playing in Europe, called the UH volleyball office yesterday with news that Ah Mow was OK after the accident.
Ah Mow and Mijalic are members of Vicenza Volley's A1 team that competes in the first division of the Italian pro women's league.