Dorsey has helped spark a late-season surge that has carried Kansas University’s volleyball team to an NCAA Tournament berth.

“Me and coach (Ray Bechard) were joking about how I should have gotten hurt a long time ago because my last couple of games have been pretty good,” Dorsey said with a smile.

Dorsey, a senior libero, damaged ligaments in her left elbow when she collided with teammate Emily Brown halfway through the Nov. 12 match against Nebraska.

Her pain is constant and practices are difficult — if she can even practice at all — but Dorsey has continued to participate despite the injury.

“I’ve had to concentrate more on footwork,” she said, noting that balls hit to her left aggravate the ailing elbow and she must position herself to use her right arm as much as possible.

When she has been forced to use her left arm, she said it felt like her “elbow was twisting,” but she has made the play and moved on.

Dorsey isn’t the only KU volleyball player who has been wounded this season. Volleyball, by its nature, forces athletes to contort their bodies into unnatural positions to scoop spikes from the other side of the net.

Several players push on through twisted knees, sprained ankles and sore shoulders. Often the injuries can’t heal completely until the season is over.

“I never play in 100 percent health,” said Josi Lima, a junior middle blocker. “I’m always hurt.”

Some injuries are worse than others, and Lima knows Dorsey suffers more than the average bumps or bruises.

“With Jill, she was hurt when we really needed her, but I think she’s stepping up,” Lima said. “She’s doing great.”

Bechard has also been impressed with Dorsey’s perseverance, but he knows athletes who have been hurt must be watched closely.

“This time of year, you just got to be really careful,” Bechard said. “You want to do everything well, but you don’t want to run them into the ground.”

NCAA Tournament bracket

While her teammates practice, Dorsey stays in shape by riding a stationary bicycle. She also does some serving because she’s right-handed and it’s her left arm that has the damaged ligaments.

Bechard would like to have her work in passing drills before Friday’s first-round clash with Santa Clara in Seattle if she can tolerate it, and he expects she will because she already has proved her mettle by playing despite the injury.

“It’s a level of toughness she’s got that most people couldn’t put up with,” Bechard said.

Clearly, the overriding reason Dorsey is gutting it out is because the Jayhawks’ next defeat will be her last in a KU uniform, and the Wellsville native would like to prolong her college career as long as possible.

“You have to give your best effort regardless because if you don’t you’re done,” she said, “and you’re in the training room trying to get better for no reason because my career will be over.”