Walking into the 2025 ASICS Florida Volleyball Challenge with my camera bag slung over my shoulder, I felt that familiar rush of adrenaline. This wasn’t just any tournament—it was the one my daughter’s team had been working toward all season. As both a dad and the team photographer, I had the best seat in the house to capture their grit, their teamwork, and the little moments in between points that told the real story. The convention center buzzed with energy, the sound of whistles echoing off the walls, but my focus stayed locked on those purple jerseys moving in perfect sync.

Match after match, the girls battled with a level of determination I hadn’t seen before. I captured them diving across the court for impossible saves, celebrating huge blocks, and huddling together with that “we’ve got this” look in their eyes. The pressure was high, but so was their confidence, and by the time the championship match rolled around, you could feel it in the air—they weren’t just playing to win, they were playing to earn something bigger. When match point landed and the final whistle blew, the court erupted. The girls had done it—they’d won their division and earned their bid to USAV Nationals.

As the team gathered for a group photo, holding up their medals with proud, sweaty smiles, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. My camera had caught the action, but my heart had captured something even more valuable: the joy of seeing my daughter and her teammates accomplish a dream they’d been chasing all year. Driving home with the gear packed away, I knew those images weren’t just going to be photos—they’d be proof of what’s possible when a team works, believes, and fights for each other. Nationals, here we come.