Reigning Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year Khalia Lanier recently graduated from Xavier Prep in Phoenix, Arizona, and will play at USC in the fall. The top recruit and member of the 2015 USA Girls' Youth National Team wrote this poem to capture her strong feelings for the sport in which she has found such great success. 

Dear Volleyball, 

First & foremost, thank you.
For the friends,
Teammates,
Adventures.
But it hasn't been easy.
This journey has been marked by 
undulating feelings of intense
sadness & sorrow,
Jubilation & joy;
Tears of both upset & triumph,
preceded by screams of pain & excitement.

But even with the ups & downs, the perfect juxtapositioning
of the two keeps me coming back.

I've been "to the mountain top"
Hiking the treacherous cliffs of failure with
brave teammates led by dedicated coaches.
But let me tell you,
When you fail to fail, 
When you make it past the abyss of self-doubt, and 
the all too easy decision to give up,
And you're standing above the mountain top with that
"trophy" or "success," or just some damn pride that you
had the ability to make it through,
It might single-handedly be one of the best feelings in the world.
So again, thank you Terri & Jami. Thank you Mom & Dad. Thank you
teammates. But lastly, thank you volleyball - 
For the adventures that we have been on, and many
more to come.

Sincerely,
Khalia