I was basically born on a volleyball court.
I believe I went to my first volleyball game when I was about a week old.
My family and friends were deeply involved in the sport.
I spent a lot of time around the game, and it just became a part of my DNA to some degree.
Volleyball opened so many doors for me and connected me to lifelong friends.
I’m grateful and humbled by its influence on my life.
If you had asked me when I was a little girl if I ever thought I would play volleyball in college, I probably would have said no.
I’m not exactly the stereotypical volleyball player.
Standing at 5’8″, I’ve always been on the shorter side, especially for a hitter.
For the longest time, I trained as a hitter, and I embraced that role to the best of my ability.
It wasn’t until around my junior year in high school when I decided to make a change.
I switched from hitting to setting, and it was then that I started to think college volleyball might be a possibility for me.
But even then, I remember thinking I’d probably end up playing at a Division II or III school, and I was perfectly fine with that.
So, when I received an offer to play at SMU, I was beyond shocked.
Not only was SMU a Division I program, but it was also one of only two DI programs that expressed interest in me.
It was a dream come true, and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.
Looking back on my time at SMU, it’s almost impossible to pick a single favorite memory.
There were so many incredible moments I’ll cherish for the rest of my life — like winning the conference title.
One memory that sticks out, though, happened off the court when we took a road trip to play Tulane in New Orleans.
It was Halloween weekend, and we had a couple of hours of free time to explore the city.
We were in the heart of New Orleans, surrounded by all kinds of wild and crazy Halloween festivities. We just spent the afternoon laughing and bopping around aimlessly. It was all perfectly unplanned.
The best part was that it all happened in the middle of the day.
It was just such a heartfelt, team-bonding kind of day that I’ll never forget and will always be grateful for.
I can’t even describe how much my teammates mean to me.
They saved my senior season.
My dad was diagnosed with cancer, and even though his prognosis was hopeful, I struggled not being there to help him.
I sacrificed spending time with my dad to practice, and it wore me down.
He had always been at every home game since I started volleyball.
If it wasn’t for my teammates’ support, I’m not sure I could’ve continued playing.
They encouraged me throughout the entire process and always embraced me with love.
It’s crazy looking back because, despite all the obstacles, my senior year was statistically my best season.
I was named the AAC Player of the Year and we won our first conference title and earned our first NCAA tournament bid.
No doubt, everyone deserves teammates like mine.
My induction into the SMU Hall of Fame is a testament to the incredible teams I was fortunate to be a part of during my time at SMU.
It’s one of the most humbling and unexpected honors I’ve received in my life.
I was actually in the middle of sleeping after a night shift when the phone rang with the news.
I was half-asleep and completely caught off guard, so my first reaction was disbelief.
I remember asking myself, “Am I old enough for this?”
I couldn’t believe it had been long enough since I graduated for me to be considered for such an honor.
But after the phone call ended, I rolled out of bed, and my back cracked, and my knees cracked and I was like, ‘oh, hell, I am old enough.’
After the initial shock wore off, though, I was overcome with happiness and gratitude.
I thought about all the incredible teammates I had at SMU – players who are just as deserving of recognition as I was.
They pushed me to be my best, both on and off the court. I’m forever grateful for the memories and experiences we shared.
After graduating from SMU, I became a physician. I work at a hospital here in Houston.
I’m blessed by the opportunity to care for my patients’ well-being and make a positive impact on people’s lives.
The most important people in my life are my wonderful family.
I’m married, and my husband and I have two beautiful daughters – a two-year-old and a three-year-old.
Life is incredibly busy, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling.
I’m a firm believer my experiences on and off the court shaped me into the person I am today, and each experience opened a door for me.
SMU will always hold a special place in my heart, and I’m honored to be a part of such a rich and storied tradition.
The inductees will be recognized at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony on Friday, September 20 in Armstrong Fieldhouse on the SMU Campus. For additional information or for tickets to the SMU Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet, click here.