Taylor Formico was determined to beat her three brothers, two older and one younger, in any sport growing up.She threw fastball after fastball in her backyard batting cage trying to match their speed. She went toe-to toe with them in weekly soccer games and sprinting races. She even tried to bounce the highest on the familys trampoline, competing for the best backflips and front flips.When she was 5, she watched her brothers climb a 10-foot tetherball post in the backyard. Formico huffed and puffed, falling short each time. But she kept climbing.I stayed up all night until 3 a.m., until I climbed to the top, Formico said. I screamed for my mom in the middle of the night. She was angry I was out there, but I had to have proof.Formico, now a 5-foot-7 senior libero for No. 9 UCLA (9-1 overall), doesnt know any other gear than overdrive. Shes usually the one screaming, high-fiving and jumping up and down for her teammates or flying around the volleyball court for an epic dig.She is the absolute heart of our team, senior outside hitter Jordan Anderson said.Just ask Formicos cousin, three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings: Shes just relentless, Walsh Jennings said. Shell run through fire or a brick wall to get a ball up for her team.Not even a torn labrum in her hip could keep Formico, the 2015 Pac-12 Libero of the Year and an American Volleyball Coaches Association third-team All-America selection, off the court.Playing hurt for the past three seasons, she didnt miss a game, a weight-lifting session, a conditioning session or a team meeting -- even when she had to Uber to campus because it was too painful to walk, even when she had to punch her hip in practice to push through a practice drill, even when her leg went numb during games.Formico, whose 554 digs (sixth most in Bruins history) led UCLA to the Sweet 16 last season, kept the injury a secret. She didnt want anyone to feel sorry for her.For her, it wasnt even an issue. It wasnt even worth talking about, UCLA coach Michael Sealy said. For her it was, Dont even show me compassion with this thing. This is just the way it is, and were going.Its always been that way for Formico.Inspired by Walsh Jennings, Formico dreamed of playing at the highest levels of the game. But few colleges recruited the Saratoga, California, native, partially because of her size, Formico said, and because shed have to transition from her natural position at setter to libero, and she didnt have any experience playing the latter.Her whole career, because of her size, shes had to struggle to get people to recognize how good she really was. It drove her, said her father, Mike. Shes constantly proving herself, even today.Former UC Santa Barbara coach Kathy Gregory offered her a spot. Formico accepted before looking at any other schools.[Gregory] helped me embrace my passion, Formico said. Sometimes its like, Youre too crazy, or, Youre too fiery, but she really embraced and loved my passion and my fight. Shes all about heart.Formico made a seamless transition to libero for the Gauchos in 2012, leading the nation with 792 digs (5.87 per set) en route to AVCA West Region Freshman of the Year honors.She pulled it off because she trained harder than anyone, Gregory said. Practice would be over and shed still want more reps. She came in on weekends. If she could train 10 hours a day, she would.Gregory ended her 38-year tenure at UCSB after Formicos rookie season. Formico was devastated -- Gregory was the one who believed in her, who took a chance on her.Formico wasnt sure if she wanted to keep playing.The more she thought about it, the more she realized she wanted to challenge herself and play at a higher level. Transferring to UCLA would fill that craving; she had always dreamed of playing in the Pac-12.But she was nervous, even intimidated, during her first few practices at UCLA in 2014. She was surrounded by women who were former top-10, blue-chip recruits, women who had been recruited straight out of high school. Formico knew her path was different, and she knew she could play -- but did she belong there?She battled the incumbent libero, Karly Drolson, for the starting spot. The first one to arrive to practice and the last to leave, Formico eventually earned the starting nod.She wanted to prove to everyone and even herself that she could play at this level, Drolson said. That girl will never give up. She just worked her butt off.Formico flourished, leading the Bruins in digs per set (3.90) and ranking third in aces (16), posting double-figure digs in 27 matches in 2014.Upping her game even more the next season, when she was recognized as the Pac-12s best libero in 2015, Formico became the 23rd Bruin to reach 1,000 career digs. She posted a career-high 35 digs against Arizona.Her ability to keep the ball in play and keep it up, to take so much passing and defensive responsibility, coaches in the Pac-12, they have a game plan for her, Sealy said. They dont do that too often with back-row players.She not only makes the steady, consistent play, but she makes the wow plays, too, Sealy said. Someone will make an amazing hit and she comes flying in to dig, and it really sucks the life out of the sail of the other team.Formico is off to a fast start for the Bruins, who have suffered just one loss this season, against San Diego. Posting double-figure digs in each of the teams 10 matches, Formico notched a season-high 28 digs against Pepperdine on Sept. 13.Formico enters Wednesdays match against crosstown rival USC, ranked 21st, with 1,193 digs as a Bruin, which is now ninth all time. She is 21 away from eighth.Formico now has amassed 1,985 digs for her career, including her time at UCSB, and likely will pass surpass 2,000 against the Trojans.But if you ask Formico, shell probably tell you she has much more to work on to elevate her game. She pulls up game film on her cell phone almost immediately after games are over, dissecting each set, each play and each mistake she made with a focus that is almost obsessive.She was somebody that wasnt even on most peoples radars, Gregory said. Its not always the superstars that make it. Its someone that wanted it more than someone else, and had something to prove. James Van Riemsdyk Jersey . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. William Nylander Jersey . 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Serena Williams penned an open letter addressed to all incredible women who strive for excellence for?Porter Magazine, and it was reprinted by The Guardian.Williams letter took aim at gender discrimination, including the pay gap in professional sports, and discussed embracing her endless possibilities. I learned not to be afraid. I learned how important it is to fight for a dream and, most importantly, to dream big, Williams wrote. But as we know, too often women are not supported enough or are discouraged from choosing their path. I hope together we can change that.ddddddddddddWilliams also highlighted how she is often referred to as one of the best female athletes of all time, a distinction not placed on her male counterparts. Do they say LeBron is one of the worlds best male athletes? she asked. Is Tiger? Federer? Why not? They are certainly not female. We should never let this go unchallenged. We should always be judged by our achievements, not by our gender. 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