Letters from alumnae: Melissa Wright

Each Thursday this summer, Bryant University Volleyball alumnae will reflect on their experiences as a student-athlete at Bryant and playing for Coach Garlacy.

This Thursday's installment is from Melissa Wright, who played at Bryant from 1998-01.

"The first words that come to mind to me are 'life-changing'. I am so grateful to Theresa and Ted for so many things, as they have truly been a huge part of shaping my life as it is today. Theresa and Ted made sure that the Bryant Volleyball team and community were our families away from home, which was critical for us as young women leaving home for the first time. They provided an environment that fostered and encouraged success and a competitive spirit both on and off the court.

"Being a student never took a backseat to being an athlete, as they made sure to provide the path to success in both avenues; all we had to do was walk the path, as challenging as it was. Theresa knows how to get the best out of you and was a role model for how to be a strong woman, coach, leader, and family member. She set the bar high but would catch us when we fell and set us straight when we needed to learn a hard lesson.

"Being a student-athlete at Bryant defined so much of who I was and the pride I feel reflecting back on that time is indescribable. Being part of the Bryant Volleyball community is still one of my proudest achievements, it provided some of my fondest memories, and taught me some of my most memorable lessons, and I can only dream that my son will have an experience half as good as mine in this arena in his lifetime."

Bryant begins its 2019 season Friday, Aug. 30, when the Bulldogs face San Diego State in a tournament hosted by FGCU in Fort Myers, Florida. The Bulldogs' home opener will be Friday, Sept. 6, when Bryant hosts North Dakota in its first match of the Hampton Inn-vitational.

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