Before gracing the grand stage of the NCAA volleyball tournament, Alex Torres embarked on a journey that required her to take the necessary steps, as outlined in this journal, to ultimately reach her dream of playing collegiate volleyball.

Alex Torres enjoyed a five-year college volleyball career, commencing as a UTEP Miner and culminating as a Texas Tech Red Raider. Her path to an elite Big 12 athletic program like Texas Tech volleyball, was far from conventional; it was quite extraordinary.

Growing up, Alex was deeply immersed in competitive AAU basketball and was anticipated to play at the collegiate level. However, fate took an unexpected turn that led her to pivot into the world of volleyball. In her junior year of high school, an unfortunate knee injury during a basketball practice brought her junior season to an abrupt halt. This adversity provided her with the time and space to make a life-changing decision: to pursue her dream of playing volleyball at the next level. Despite the unconventional path of having only played high school volleyball without club team experience, Alex's determination blossomed into one of the most treasured experiences of her life.

During her collegiate journey, Alex became the premier libero for the UTEP Miners. During her second season, she became the 15th player in the program's history to surpass 30 digs in a single match. The end of her sophomore year was marked by yet another knee injury that caused her to reflect on her volleyball career. Remarkably, this injury, though daunting, turned out to be a blessing in disguise, offering a second chance. She received an incredible opportunity to transfer to Texas Tech University, where she was offered a position on the team while she continued her rehabilitation efforts. As a starting defensive specialist for the Red Raiders, she helped her team clinch their first NCAA volleyball tournament appearance in 20 years. During her tenure at Texas Tech, she earned numerous accolades, a few being Academic All-Big 12 First Team and Comeback Athlete of the Year Award.

With inspiration and determination, Alex crafted this journal with young athletes in mind, including those who may not have had the opportunity to play club volleyball or have faced adversity but dream of playing at the highest level. Motivated by her journey, Alex believed she could offer guidance to young athletes as they strive to achieve their dreams. Her remarkable journey serves as evidence that with dedication, self-belief, and resilience, you can also confidently proclaim: "I can play too."