The Starting Line: Ali Deatsch and Megan Gravley

Updated: October 07, 2012 8:49 p.m. (ET)
by Southern Conference

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On Elon University's volleyball team, it's about more than just how many digs and kills you get. It is about respect, determination and most importantly impacting others. It is about recruiting student-athletes who will have a positive influence on the volleyball court, in the classroom, on campus and in the community. Head Coach Mary Tendler has two of these exceptional people on her roster this year and both women are determined to make a difference; they are determined to find a cure for cancer.

Ali Deatsch was one of 15 rising juniors last year that were named recipients of the 2011 Lumen Prize, the university's premier award that comes with a $15,000 scholarship to support and celebrate academic achievements. She was the first Elon athlete to win this prestigious award.

Deatsch continues to work with her mentor, Benjamin Evans to pursue and complete her research project: Optimizing Heating Efficiency of Magnetic Microspheres for Magnetic Hyperthermia Treatment of Malignant Tumors.

Freshman Megan Gravley excelled in her senior year at Apex High School. Not only did she lead Apex to its fourth consecutive conference championship and earn team MVP honors, she helped raise $30,000 for The V Foundation for Cancer Research through the Peak City Gala of Hope.

The idea for the gala started as a strategic communications class ad-campaign project for Gravley and two of her classmates at the beginning of the school year and became a reality on Jan. 22. The original goal was to raise $10,000, however, Gravley and her group members tripled that amount after the gala which included speakers, an auction, door prizes and food. The three seniors chose The V Foundation as the beneficiary for their project because of their families' ties to the Triangle business and sports communities, as well as each girl's personal reasons for wanting to find a cure for cancer.

In March, Gravley and her classmates presented their project in Greensboro, N.C., at the 2012 North Carolina DECA Career Development Conference. They placed first in the "Learn and Earn" category and earned the right to compete at the International Career Development Conference in Salt Lake City in April against more than 12,000 national and international students and teams. Out of the 123 entries in their category at DECA's ICDC, Gravley and her team placed first.

Both women are great examples of what it means to be exceptional student-athletes. On and off the volleyball court they are making an impact and staying determined.