In 2018-19, the Mountain East Conference began its "Dear Sport" initiative where student-athletes in the conference were encouraged to write a letter to their sport. The initiative provides the opportunity for student-athletes to express in their own words the impact that sports has played in shaping them throughout their lives. 

Click here to view all letters posted throughout the year. 

Below is a letter from Brianna Brandt, a volleyball player at West Virginia State University.

Dear Volleyball,

I would like to start off by saying thank you for all the things you have given me and taught me. You have been a constant in my life and will continue to be throughout the rest. We’ve had ups and downs, but we’ve made it through it all. I discovered you a bit later than everyone else, but once I started I instantly fell in love with the game. I played softball and basketball since I was very young. I discovered volleyball when I was in seventh grade, which was a very awkward stage for me, but volleyball helped me through. That year no one on my team wanted to set so I stepped up and learned the role. They always related the setter to a quarterback or a catcher and I like the role of being a leader and being able to have an impact on the game. When I became a freshman, I had to choose between all my sports to focus on or one to accomplish my goal to play in college. I loved volleyball most but I had never played club so I doubted my ability. I tried out for a club team for the first time my freshman year and I made a deal with myself: If I made the team I would play volleyball, and if I didn’t I would continue playing softball. I made the team and that was the deciding factor to focus on volleyball. I had a lot to learn. However, I took this as a sign from God showing me which was best for me.

Volleyball has been my best friend throughout the years, it’s been my safe haven when I had problems in life. Volleyball has always been there for me through all the laughs, smiles, sweat, and tears. Volleyball has taught me teamwork, leadership, how to deal with adversity, and that hard work goes a long way. Those are just a few of the many things volleyball has taught me. I took on the leadership role in high school with being a setter and a captain. When I got to college things didn’t go as I thought they would. I had to get up-to-speed with the game and I had to deal with a lot of adversity. I had always been a setter and never had to learn anything else. However, when I got to college, there were injuries and a lack of people. Coach depended on me to play other positions. I learned to play middle and outside and to be a defensive specialist.

Volleyball taught me to also do what’s needed to help my team win, even when it’s not what I prefer. This year I am now a sophomore and am playing a defensive specialist role while keeping up on my setting skills. Volleyball has made me learn to be versatile and a team player. Putting everyone else’s need before my own. Volleyball has made me a caring person as well. It has made me be able to manage time as well as set goals for myself and aspire to a higher standard -- good isn’t good enough and that there is always room to get better.

It has made me close with my parents and grandparents because of the travel that came with it. Volleyball has made me appreciate my family so much because of the support it requires and they continue to give me endless amounts of support. Volleyball has brought me many opportunities, the chance to go to college and the opportunity to coach as well. I enjoy coaching because it allows me to share my knowledge and love for the game with young girls. They remind me constantly why I fell in love with the game and why I started playing. Coaching has also shown me that these girls look up to us playing at the collegiate level and they are so appreciative that we take the time to help them
become better players and people. Coaching has also shown me a new way of looking at the game and makes me a better player, it adds to my “Volleyball IQ."

Volleyball has also brought me to my best friends and looking back I don’t know what I’d do without them. I met more of my best friends in college and I get to see them and play the sport that brought us together with them everyday.

Thank you, volleyball, for all the opportunities you have given me, making me the person I am today and for always continuing to be a constant in my life. Thank you for introducing me to my best friends and all the amazing people throughout my life. I hope you will always be part of my life and your lessons influence others positively. 

Brianna Brandt
West Virginia State University