One of my best friends from my hometown is a volleyball player at one of my rival schools, the University of Illinois. Her name is Morgan, and she is not your average volleyball player. She played all four years of high school volleyball on the varsity level, and on top of that, played years for competitive club teams which played against teams from all across America. I have seen her play numerous times, and she is incredibly skilled at her game.

Every time I have watched her play, she makes plays that I will never make playing intramural volleyball. On top of that, she plays arguably the hardest position in the game, the libero. But the bottom line is that Morgan is insanely talented in volleyball that she tried out for the collegiate Team USA team back in February, and she was one of the few out of hundreds collegiate volleyball players across the nation who made the cut for the collegiate Team USA.

Despite the fact that Morgan plays at a rival school of mine, I did make a promise to her. And that was that I would always be a supportive friend to her in everything she does. Because Morgan is very busy with everything she does in volleyball, I don't get many chances to see her or talk with her as I did when we were in high school, but I do my best to show support to her since I think very highly of her as a friend. So for my article this week, I decided that I would write a letter to motivate her and show support on her latest volleyball adventure.

Dear Morgan,

I remember hearing the news back in February that you were going to be one of hundreds of collegiate volleyball players to try out for the Women's Team USA collegiate volleyball team. There was never a doubt in my mind about how things would end up, I knew right away that you were going to make the National team. I had been watching you play since I decided to go to your volleyball games during my senior year of high school.

And I immediately recognized your amazing skills at the game. I knew you were uncommon from the rest of the competition you played against. So I kept coming back to see you perform because you got me to enjoy watching a sport that I never believed I would enjoy watching. Eventually, I got around to seeing one of your games with your club team, and you showed why it was worth it for me to wake up at 6 AM and drive 60 miles on a freezing January day just to watch you play. That was you showed to me that day that you have the skills to compete against anyone you go up against. This was true when I saw you play this past October when my Hawkeyes hosted your Fighting Illini in Iowa City.

You were a true freshmen, and you were making a start at the libero position to fill in for an injured player in Big Ten competition. While that was the only time I was watching you play where I did not want you to win, I remember walking out of Carver Hawkeye Arena just thinking of how incredible you are at the sport. I always knew since the day I saw your Instagram post announcing that you had committed to play collegiate volleyball at the University of Illinois, The Fighting Illini were getting a special person to compete for their team.

On that October night, I realized how lucky The Fighting Illini are to have a competitive player like you. Because you proved that you can handle any competition, nothing is too large of a challenge for you to handle in the game. Therefore, I was not surprised at all when I found out in April that you had made the cut for the National Team.

I have always been a heavy believer in you.

Back in August 2016, during your senior year, I was able to make it out to one of your high school games before I went to school. I posted a snap story of you during game action, and I said that I believed you would make the cut for the Olympics whenever the time comes.

I still believe that you will, but now a part of me believes that this could possibly become more of a reality since you are now getting the chance to compete with a national team. I believe that you will show why you eventually belong on the Olympic Stage when you compete in this prestigious tournament. I have seen proof from watching and following your careers in high school, club, and college volleyball that nothing is too large for you to handle. So keep in mind that you should be hungry for more volleyball experiences in your future when you go out there and compete.

Use this as training for the possibilities that could happen in the future. I feel that you will be a future NCAA All-American Selection as well. Go up and perform at your highest level and my beliefs of what might happen in your volleyball career may become true one day.

You have always made me proud to be your friend with how much you accomplish in the game. But it's more than the results and play on the court that make me proud. It's all of the sacrifices you make to ensure your success that makes me proud. First off, I know you need to spend a lot of time conditioning yourself in the weight room and other athletic facilities. On top of that, you have a ton of work to do in the classroom.

Ultimately, you give up on typical college experiences so you can have a successful volleyball career. I am proud to see you find success in what you have chosen to pursue. I have no idea how any college athlete does manage their time with all of the conditioning, practices, games, traveling, and academics, but you are willing to make those sacrifices just for the success of your career. You have always had that determination to be one of the best in the game, and your competitiveness is something that I admire very much about you. Those are all just one of many reasons why you make me proud to be your friend.

Lastly, I will say, nobody deserves the experience to compete for a National Team more than you. I have already mentioned how I admire you as a player, but I admire you more for the person you are. You have been such a kind and genuine person not just to me, but to everyone who has played a role in your life. You have been a great friend to me and to so many people, and I know you are one of those people that can make others feel happy easily. I really hope that all of your Fighting Illini teammates feel as lucky and as blessed to have you in their lives as much as I've felt lucky to have you in mine.

As I promised to you, I will always be supportive of you and your volleyball career no matter what. I'm rooting heavily for you to have a successful tour with the Women's Collegiate Team USA team. I do miss you very much, but again, you are making me very proud with all that you are doing for your volleyball career. As always, I am wishing you the best.

Go out there and prove that you are the boss on the court!

Signed,

One of your biggest fans.