Ritisha Thakker is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Maryvale High School for AZPreps365.com

Loss is difficult at any time of life, but how does a 16-year-old overcome what seems like the worst thing that could happen to them, while also being expected to continue on with their young lives?

This is something that Maryvale High School girls volleyball senior Noelia Meraz had to deal with during her sophomore year of high school. When Meraz experienced two sudden family deaths within months of each other, she felt lost and did not know where to turn for support. Consequently, her grades dropped for about a year after that and she lost all motivation to continue on with school. 

Noelia is a strong leader who had faced obstacles in the past, but this situation seemed too big to overcome for her. Although she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling of sadness that consumed her. 

“I felt mentally drained for a year and a half after that happened and I never really had anyone to talk to because I’m not that close to my parents and I have a small friend group. To be honest, I had days that I would leave class to cry in the restrooms. My GPA dropped a lot too,” Meraz said. 

The one thing in Meraz’s life that motivated her was her love and passion for her sport. The support she received from her teammates, and the release she felt while performing physical activities helped her find a way to cope with her loss. 

“My junior season was my favorite season … but it was also the hardest season because there were times that I wanted to give up. I used it as my way of coping. I would run, go to the gym, try harder at everything to make my body feel physical pain instead of the emotional. And I felt strong, it made me feel like I can get through my trauma and I can move on. Volleyball made me feel good again, because I learned to not give up and to push myself to hard measures, I learned that I can do hard things,” Meraz said. 

Although Meraz was going through a war in her own head, she never let it affect her team or her performance. Meraz’s head coach Ashley Bodden was one of the few people Meraz trusted with her feelings and Bodden watched her overcome her difficulties. 

“She used volleyball as her safe space. I think it taught her how to overcome things. She was going through a really hard time personally but she really focused her energy on volleyball to help her cope with her emotions and it made her a better player,” Bodden said. 

The bond Meraz formed with her teammates during this time allowed her to focus on helping them to victory and this mindset continued on during the rest of her junior and senior seasons. Marianna Jennings, Meraz’s senior teammate, was even inspired by Meraz’s new mindset. 

“The confidence that she gained over these past years helps me because I look up to her and her mentality. She is committed to the team and always has a winning mentality,” Jennings said. 

Through the confidence and skills she gained through volleyball, Meraz was able to motivate herself to pick her grades up, and continue on. Now, she has straight As and is working toward earning a scholarship while balancing school, volleyball, and a job. Volleyball pulled her out of a dark time and pushed her to become the person she is today.