Setter Kathryn ``Kat'' Maher was looking forward to beginning her high school varsity volleyball career when West Broward opened its doors in 2008, but a severe back injury shut her down.

Instead of quitting, this resilient Kat proved to have two lives.

After missing high school and club volleyball last season, the 5-7 Maher returned this season, her senior campaign -- healthy, happy and ready to make her mark a year later on the high school varsity circuit.

So far, very good.

``It was the hardest experience I'd ever gone through,'' said Maher who has lead the Bobcats to a 7-1 mark with wins over Coral Glades, McArthur, Plantation, South Broward and South Plantation and Coral Springs Charter twice, including a road win Wednesday.

``After missing last season, I appreciate playing more, being the captain and being on this team. I just love the sport, and I love this team. I hated not playing, and I definitely wanted to come back.''

West Broward coach Jill Smitherman said: ``I think she has a good game overall. Her skill set was definitely there, but she just needed more game experience. She hadn't had any [high school] game play since 2007, and the game is getting faster and faster, but she has come a long way in seven weeks.''

The road to recovery was difficult.

With bone scans and an MRI, Maher was diagnosed in August 2008 with a broken back, fracturing the L3 vertebrae. She injured it during club volleyball in January 2008, but not knowing, she continued playing.

``It was hurting the whole time,'' she said. ``I thought I just pulled a muscle.''

Maher competed for the Wildfire Volleyball Club 16s.

``Club season is very important to prepare for playing in college,'' she said, ``and I was going into my junior season which is an important season for colleges to see you.''

Maher used Icy Hot and over the counter medicine. Unaware it was a bone issue and thinking it was muscle, she even tried physical therapy as she prepared for her first season of high school varsity action.

With the pain so extreme, finally, she made a doctor's appointment a week after school started. Doctors told her if she wanted to play again, she would have to miss a year.

``I was hysterical,'' Maher said. ``I've played volleyball since sixth grade. I was always running, keeping busy, going to the gym. Then, I couldn't run. I couldn't walk. I couldn't do anything. . . I couldn't play volleyball.''

Maher couldn't play for the Bobcats in 2008, but she helped in other ways with advice and support as the team manager. With no seniors, West Broward made an auspicious debut, going 16-4 and reaching the second round of the district playoffs.

With Maher sidelined, junior Taylor Bonito led the Bobcats last season in points and setting while athletic junior Sineidy Cruz stepped up her game on offense, defense and setting. Cruz, who plays right side this season, also shares back row and front row duties with Maher. Cruz, Bonito and Maher can set, but Maher is the primary setter this season.

Maher began physical therapy in May.

She said: ``If this would have happened my senior year, that would have been the worse.''

It didn't.

Maher is very smart student athlete who has gained the respect of her teammates. They voted her team captain.

``She wanted to show her leadership,'' Smitherman said, ``and she was 100 percent ready to go.''

The 5-6 Maher will finish her high school career, but she has no plans of competing in college.

``I'm not going to be in the Olympics so I might as well focus more on school,'' she said. ``I started thinking of other things.''

Maher is treasurer of the school's Student Government Association and a member of the National Honor Society, the National English Honor Society, the Spirt Club and Best Buddies.

Maher spent her sophomore season as captain of the junior varsity team at Everglades High School in Miramar. When West Broward opened, she was tabbed one of the leaders on the inaugural West Broward varsity team.

The Bobcats compete in a formidable district with Cypress Bay, Cooper City, Everglades, Flanagan and Western. Their only setback was to Coral Springs.

• A native of Long Island, West Broward coach Jill Smitherman played volleyball in high school and then the University of Albany and Cortland College. In South Florida, she was the former JV and assistant varsity coach at Cypress Bay High School under the tutelage of respected and recently retired coach Barry Sikorski.

Jill and Thomas Smitherman have three children who they coach in Cooper City Optimist rec sports -- basketball, flag football, soccer, softball -- and travel tackle football.

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