A New Game With An Old Partner : Volleyball: After undergoing shoulder surgery, Patty Dodd had to revise her game. She battled back and reunited with Jackie Silva.

Patty Dodd was so discouraged with her performance earlier this season that she almost quit playing on the Women’s Professional Volleyball Assn. tour. After four successful seasons on the tour, the former UCLA All-American found herself in an unfamiliar situation after undergoing shoulder surgery.

She had a difficult time hitting, her serves were ineffective and, as a result, finding a good partner was difficult.

Dodd, who turns 28 on Monday, failed to break into the top four at a tournament until recently, when she teamed with Jackie Silva.

Silva and Dodd, who played together in 1989, placed third in their first tournament on July 7 in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and ninth in their second event at Venice. Last week they lost, 15-8, to top-ranked Angela Rock and Karolyn Kirby in the final at Boulder, Colo.

“The fact that they can just pick up and get to a final says a lot,” said Kirby, who has won 11 of 15 tournaments with Rock. “That’s a good team. That’s a fast, smart and experienced team.”

But before reuniting with Silva, who is the player with the most wins in WPVA history, Dodd went through a difficult period.

“The beginning of the season was real rough for me,” said Dodd, who lives in El Segundo. “I was still in pain and I didn’t have full range of motion. My arm swing was not the same and I couldn’t hit as hard. My shots were not deceiving like before. I had to learn a new game. I had to adjust my game to my new shoulder.”

After an operation on Oct. 9, Dodd went through five months of intense and painful physical therapy. She couldn’t play volleyball until two weeks before the season’s first tournament on April 6 at Austin, Tex.

“(Rehabilitation) was long, tedious, frustrating and very painful,” Dodd said. “That first month I thought I’d never play volleyball again.”

Her physical therapist, Monique Peterson, says the months after the surgery were tough physically and emotionally.

“It was grueling for her,” Peterson said. “I became known as a physical terrorist. She was real determined and she was a good sport about it. It was real hard for her and she put up with a lot of pain and threshold.”

Dodd says her husband, pro beach volleyball standout Mike Dodd, helped her through the rough times. Besides providing emotional support, he taught her how to add a step to her serve in order to utilize complete body strength.

“There were times when she said ‘What am I doing this for? I can’t even serve the way I used to and I can’t even hit,’ ” said Mike Dodd, a highly ranked player on the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals tour. “She got through that, and it takes a big person to do that. She really went through a difficult time, but she did all the hard work on her own. Words can’t really describe how proud I am of her.”

Dodd has won 12 pro beach tournaments and has finished consistently in the top four since 1987. This has been the most unproductive season of her career, causing her to be depressed early on.

“Believe me, many times this season when I got home after a bad finish I felt like quitting,” Dodd said. “My confidence was real low, the lowest it’s ever been.”

Dodd started the season with UCLA All-American Liz Masakayan, but the partnership ended after four tournaments. Their best finish was fifth at Clearwater, Fla. Dodd then played five tournaments with Heather Hafner, a Division II All-American from Cal State Northridge, and their best finish was seventh.

Dodd says the turning point came after a two-week break in early June. She didn’t qualify for the Reno Invitational Shootout on June 1-2, and the tournament scheduled for the following week in Dallas was canceled.

The time off benefited her. She says she felt stronger and more confident after the break. She played in one tournament with an injured Nina Matthies and then teamed with Lori Biller for two consecutive fifth-place finishes.

“People were so surprised I did so well, but I said ‘No, I’m feeling better.’ ” Dodd said. “Now people want to play with me. After Lori and I placed fifth the first time they called a lot. After the second time they called a lot too. Then Jackie called and that I paid attention to.”

Silva says she was impressed with Dodd’s performance.

“Patty did really well with Lori,” Silva said. “She was good and she tried real hard.”

Dodd and Silva had a successful partnership for most of 1989. They won 11 of 13 tournaments, but split abruptly due to personality differences. Silva has also struggled this season. A loose capsule in her right shoulder forced her to miss eight of the first nine tournaments.

Silva played in three events with Rita Crockett-Royster before reuniting with Dodd. She placed second at Santa Cruz, fifth at Manhattan Beach and seventh at San Diego with Crockett-Royster.

“I guess we’re the two wounded warriors,” Dodd said, laughing. “Jackie has changed a lot. We’ve both matured. She’s humble now. The injury has made her a better person, more understanding.

“We get along on the court better now. Two years ago, Jackie was very vocal and verbal on the court and at times negative. She’s more positive now, more willing to discuss strategy. She’s more fun to play with now. She doesn’t scream at me anymore. I don’t have to bring my earplugs.”

Silva, a former Brazilian Olympian, says she never imagined teaming again with Dodd after the bitter disputes they experienced in 1989.

“It was real hard for me to make my mind to play with Patty Dodd again,” Silva said. “I know I hurt her. But I feel better with Patty in games. It’s much easier when you play with someone who knows the beach game so well.”

Although neither player is at full strength, Dodd believes little has changed since 1989. She says the team is the same strong, defensive force it was two years ago.

“We also share the court really well because there’s good chemistry,” Dodd said. “She takes her half and I take my half. Jackie is just such a great player.”

Silva and Dodd plan to finish the season together. They will play in Santa Barbara this weekend and in the World Championships at Las Vegas on Aug. 24-25.

Dodd says in many ways her injury has made her a better player. It also helped her reunite with Silva, the partner she’s had the most success with.

“It forced me to change my serve and my shots,” she said. “I’m better at placing instead of just hitting hard all the time. It’s really made me a smarter player.”