August 1, 2021
Move-in day had arrived for the James Madison University women's volleyball team. Sarah Fuller, a first woman to ever play in a Power Five NCAA football game and a media superstar, had graduated from Vanderbilt University after three years and chose to pursue a graduate degree in Sports Administration away from the media limelight. Having arrived at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, Sarah went in search of her tie to the Dukes' volleyball program, junior middle blocker Sophia Davis, finding her perusing the vending machines in search of a quick bite. Once they had met up, the pair collected their luggage and left the terminal to wait for Dustin Norman, the team's volunteer assistant coach, to pick them up and drive the two of them back to Harrisonburg.
As the two players and coach were making the hour-long trip to campus, Dustin asked Sarah about her past experience as a volleyball player and her life's journey prior to landing in Virginia, then inquired about Sophia's summer break, with the pair teasing each other over how wonderful it was to get away from their respective pains in the butt. Once they arrived at the Grace Street Apartments, the players unloaded the team van while Dustin went inside to handle his charges' early arrival and to gain assistance in helping them get their belongings to their third-floor units.
***
Sarah and Sophia had gotten the living room/kitchen portion of their apartment filled-in and habitable in relatively short order, after which the latter decided to head off-campus to the house three of their teammates were renting. Alone in the apartment and without any in-house entertainment available (Cable and Internet would be installed later in the week), Sarah decided to dial up a couple of other college sports superstars.
Jocelyn Alo (Oklahoma softball): SARAH!
Sarah: Jocygirl!
Paige Bueckers (UConn basketball): Hey, you! Didn't expect to be hearing from you so soon after getting to JMU, lady!
Sarah: Roomie is wandering campus checking on everyone's arrivals today. With the team's first activity not being until 7, I thought about who I could bother for a bit.
Jocelyn: It was nice of you to think of us, bud! How are you feeling about starting up with a new team and returning to volleyball on at least a temporary basis?
Sarah: A little nervous, just because you know it takes me time to warm up to others and to feel comfortable expressing myself. So what's up with the two of you?
Jocelyn: Taking advantage of my last couple of weeks of summer break before heading back to Norman.
Paige: Same thing as you, home run queen. REALLY hoping the work done on my ankle in the off-season doesn't affect my lateral quickness or ability to cut-and-drive.
Jocelyn: Surgery is a real PITA, although it didn't look like you were doing too bad on it when we saw each other at the ESPYs.
Paige: So, Ms. President-Of-The-Future, any hopes of getting you into the dating game now that you've pulled yourself out of the media circus?
Sarah: Not thinking that far ahead yet. Want to make sure I start off on the right foot with volleyball and grad school. THEN, I might begin to look around, but more likely someone will have to find me than vice-versa.
Jocelyn: It'll happen, because you have such a happy disposition in spite of your nervousness around members of the opposite sex.
Sarah: Something is going on out in the hall. Think I'm going to check it out. Catch up with you again soon. Love you SO DAMN MUCH!
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Under The Radar: A Redshirt Diary
FanfictionSarah Fuller was a goalkeeper on the Vanderbilt University women's soccer team, but is best-known for being the first woman to play in and score in a Power Five Football Bowl Subdivision game. Having finished her degree with two years of eligibility...
