My Gold Medal Journey – University of Nebraska

I Am an Olympian

That lesson from the 2014 season is something I carried with me when competing on the national scene after college. People told me ‘no’ so many times, and I can’t even count the doors that were closed in my face.

But each and every time, I would go back and try to create new opportunities for myself.

One of those opportunities came overseas in Germany for a professional volleyball contract. If you thought I was homesick moving from California to Nebraska, imagine how I felt going to a completely different country. Well, continent, even. 

I obviously don’t speak German, and I wasn’t really familiar with the culture. Even simple things, like finding something I wanted to eat from back home was a journey all in itself. You’re just navigating through this different part of the world and trying to make that new home for yourself.

But no matter where I went in the world, volleyball always brought a sense of community. It’s one of the things I love most about the sport.

During my transition as a professional player, I was so much more confident than I’d ever been. My playing time was increasing, and with the group being smaller, I was receiving more attention on the court.

I remember starting the first three games for the team in the Volleyball Nations League, and during a one-on-one meeting with my coach, I was told I had a really good shot at making the Tokyo roster. 

I mean, how do you not freak out when receiving that kind of news?

Athletes all around the world dream their whole lives about representing their country and competing in the Olympics. And there I was, thinking this could possibly be me. I was ecstatic.

But I stuffed those emotions down and kept focusing on my day-to-day. I just needed to stay the course until the official word came.

And nothing could have prepared me for the moment when it finally did. 

Just a wave of emotions came over me as I sat there thinking about everything I’ve endured the last five years—the endless grind, the defeats, the victories. 

All of it was for this moment.