Global Volleyball Injury Report: Rowan Faces Surgery as Sigler Escapes Serious Setback

When your starting setter goes down weeks before the SuperLega season, the scramble is immediate and ruthless. That is exactly the scenario Vero Volley Monza faced this week after American standout Andrew Rowan suffered a severe hand injury. Rowan, tapped to run the offense for the Italian club, fractured his right thumb while on international duty with the United States national team at the NORCECA Men's Continental Championship. The timing could not have been worse for a Monza squad looking to integrate new pieces and build early-season chemistry.[1][2]

The severity of the fracture required immediate medical intervention. On September 22, 2026, Rowan underwent surgery in the United States to stabilize the thumb, a procedure performed by hand specialist Dr. Mark Halikis. Following the operation, Monza announced that their marquee setter is not expected to return to full activity until the end of November. He will undergo a follow-up examination next week before traveling to Italy to begin an intensive rehabilitation program with the club's medical staff.[1][2]

Rowan's extended absence left Monza staring down the barrel of the grueling SuperLega schedule with only young Leonardo Bonacchi healthy at the setter position. Recognizing the danger of entering the season without a proven distributor, the front office immediately re-entered the transfer market. They prioritized stability and league familiarity over raw upside, needing someone who could step in without a steep learning curve. The solution arrived swiftly in the form of 33-year-old German international Jan Zimmermann, a seasoned veteran who already knows the intense demands of the Italian top flight.[1][2]

Zimmermann is a highly known commodity in Monza, having previously worn the Vero Volley jersey during both the 2022/23 and 2025/26 campaigns. His return provides an immediate, stabilizing force for a roster that is currently in flux, particularly as they welcome Bulgarian internationals Zhasmin Velichkov and Iliya Petkov back from their own national team duties. By opting for continuity rather than taking a risk on an unfamiliar prospect, Monza ensures their hitters have an experienced hand distributing the ball, allowing Rowan to focus entirely on his long-term recovery without rushing back to the court.[1][2]

Across the Atlantic, the stakes were just as high for the No. 1 team in the NCAA, where a terrifying moment ultimately yielded a massive sigh of relief. During a September 24 sweep over the Missouri Tigers, Nebraska sophomore outside hitter Teraya Sigler slipped on a sweat spot in the second set. The match, ironically relocated to the indoor Devaney Center after condensation ruined the original Wrigley Field outdoor setup, nearly cost the Huskers their breakout six-rotation star.[4][5][6]

Sigler was helped off the court and later returned to the bench wearing street clothes and a walking boot on her right leg. For a player who had just notched a career-high 13 kills against FGCU and was hitting .310 on the season, the visual sent a shockwave through the fanbase. Sigler has transformed her game in 2026, racking up 81 kills in the non-conference slate and becoming a vital piece of Nebraska's national championship puzzle.[4][6]

Fortunately for the Huskers, the post-match prognosis quickly defused the rising panic. Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly addressed the media and the fanbase, confirming on a local radio show that she was 'not overly worried' about the long-term severity of the injury. While acknowledging that she has seen 'some weird injuries before on weird plays' throughout her career, Busboom Kelly's update indicated that the walking boot was primarily a precautionary measure. The coaching staff immediately ruled Sigler out for the opening Big Ten weekend, prioritizing her long-term health over immediate conference wins.[3][4][5]

Sigler sat out Nebraska's matches against Rutgers on September 25 and Ohio State on September 26, allowing Skyler Pierce and Keri Leimbach to step up and maintain the team's flawless 11-0 record. The current expectation is that Sigler will be back in the lineup for next weekend's heavyweight road clash against Penn State. For both Monza and Nebraska, this week's injury scares tested their depth, but swift front-office moves and lucky breaks have kept their respective seasons firmly on track.[3][5][6]