OMAHA, Neb. — Nobody wants to see it, and every athlete fears it.

But on Saturday afternoon, Rachel Hockaday lived it.

What looked like a dream year and potential All-American season for the junior was crushed just 20 points into the first match by the single most dreaded injury in sports: the ACL tear.

An awkward landing following an attack on the outside during Saturday’s game buckled the left knee of the Decatur, Ill., native and landed her on the sidelines for the rest of the season.

A previously raucous crowd at the Qwest Center grew deathly silent as trainers rushed to the fallen Hockaday while she lay underneath the net, knowing full well her season was likely finished.

It is expected that an MRI will fully confirm the diagnosis Monday once the team returns to Ames.

“It’s tough,” said coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “Losing Hock, that’s not something that happens and you just get over. But while we’re going to miss her, we’re still going to be a very good team.”

If the circumstances with Hilton Coliseum earlier this season have taught this team anything, it’s that there is always a way for something to be overcome.

And the solution to their newest problem fell into the hands of someone Hockaday knows very well — her roommate Carly Jenson.

The Omaha, Neb., native replaced Hockaday after the injury and finished the match with eight kills, four blocks and nine digs on a .278 hitting percentage in a 3-1 loss to No. 13 Florida.

A walk-on to the program her freshman year, Jenson had little experience on the court the previous two seasons behind Hockaday and All-American Victoria Henson, playing a limited number of points in 27 of Iowa State’s 65 matches.

“I thought Carly did a terrific job,” Johnson-Lynch said. “She has not had a lot of playing time up to this point, but I thought she stayed very composed and did a really nice job in that spot.”

Jenson returned the following day to post even better numbers against No. 14 Kentucky in front of her hometown crowd in Omaha, as she notched a pair of career highs with 14 kills and 16 digs in the win.

The start against the Wildcats on Sunday was just the fourth of Jenson’s career, and her first since Sept. 2, 2009, against Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. She finished that night with six kills and 11 digs against the Panthers.

“I obviously have some big shoes to fill,” Jenson said. “I feel so bad for Hock, and I miss her so much out there. I want to do the best I can for my team and for her. I’m just glad I could step in and help out.”

If there is any silver lining around the injury of the preseason All-Big 12 honoree, it’s the fact that it occurred so early on in the season.

In accordance with NCAA rules, Hockaday is qualified for a medical redshirt and will likely retain her two remaining seasons of playing eligibility.

While everything has now been derailed for a year, the motivated junior will still have plenty of time to bounce back and follow through on the future that she so eagerly anticipated in the preseason.