At the 2010 Big 12 women’s basketball media days, Carlee Roethlisberger was asked if she had considered using her fifth year of eligibility to play volleyball, a sport she also excelled at in high school. She told reporters she had thought about it but probably wouldn’t pursue it.

Fast-forward to the spring, where Roethlisberger was out on the court with the OU volleyball team for spring practice.

Things change.

The reason? Roethlisberger said it was because she had the opportunity to play volleyball again.

“I think once you get closer to the end of your career, you start thinking about going into the real world,” Roethlisberger said. “Not that I wasn’t ready for it, but I love Oklahoma. I’ve really enjoyed my time here, and since the opportunity was there, I figured why not take it.”

Roethlisberger’s OU basketball career ended in March when the Sooners fell to Notre Dame in the Sweet 16. Her senior season was her best of the four years she spent on the team. She averaged 6.9 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game and a career-high 31.7-percent shooting from 3-point range.

Now she’s picking up where she left off in volleyball four years ago. Coming out of Findlay High School in Ohio, Roethlisberger received volleyball offers from Nebraska, Minnesota and Ohio State. When it came time for a decision, Roethlisberger said both options were very much in play.

“It was like either Oklahoma for basketball or I was going to play volleyball,” Roethlisberger recalled. “It was literally a heads-or-tails decision.”

Since joining the volleyball team, Roethlisberger said she has encountered nothing but open and welcoming arms. She attributes this to the friendships she formed over the previous three years with women on the team.

OU coach Santiago Restrepo said the women on the team were thrilled when he announced Roethlisberger would be joining the team. After seeing her talent and athleticism, he was pretty thrilled as well.

“She’s extremely agile, moves side to side very fast, very light on her feet, explosive off the ground,” Restrepo said. “She has very long arms, which helps her a lot with her blocking. She’s just a gifted athlete.”

One thing Roethlisberger brings to the team that no one else does is Final Four experience. Roethlisberger experienced two of those with the OU women’s basketball team. For a volleyball squad that desperately wants to get to the biggest stage, having a player who’s been there is invaluable.

“We hope that when we get to that point, she can bring that experience,” Restrepo said. “Knowing how to handle situations and different gyms and different matches against Big 12 opponents, that’s when it counts the most.”

Roethlisberger also said she hopes her experience in collegiate postseasons will help the Sooners succeed.

“I think that from a volleyball standpoint, since I’ve been there, there’s a level and a standard that you have to set,” Roethlisberger said. “These girls — and these seniors especially — are there. I guess I can share my experiences like, ‘This is what it was like, this is how awesome it is once you get there, this hard work you guys are doing will pay off.’”

Roethlisberger will play middle blocker, backing up sophomore Sallie McLaurin. McLaurin said she is helping Roethlisberger knock off four years of rust, but McLaurin also said she is learning a lot from Roethlisberger as well.

“She’s had points in her athletic career that have taken her far, and so she knows how to handle certain situations,” McLaurin said. “Also, her attitude on the court; she’s always aggressive, she knows how to approach certain situations, and I can learn a lot from her that way.”

One of Roethlisberger’s biggest supporters from the start has been her older brother, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. When she approached him about taking up volleyball again, she said he was happy she was taking advantage of the opportunity.

“I know that if I have a tough decision, he’s already made it (in the past), especially at this level,” Roethlisberger said. “Anything I need I know he’s going to be honest with me.”

Roethlisberger said the physical demands of basketball and volleyball are quite different, such as the muscle groups used to play and the amount of running involved. However, Roethlisberger said basketball kept her in great shape for adjusting to the different demands of volleyball.

“I don’t know that there’s too many sports besides soccer and those kinds of things, but basketball, you’re always running, you’re always doing stuff and it’s a year round thing,” Roethlisberger said. “You’re always in shape.”

Four years ago, Roethlisberger almost didn’t come to Norman because of volleyball. Today, she’s still at OU because of it.

Oh how things change.