Laker refuses to let cancer end her volleyball dream

Valvano's message and the foundation's mission remain important to Orlet. She has been profiled on the foundation's website and continues to share her story through its social media channels. She also pays tribute to him during matches, writing "Jimmy V" on her shoe's midsole.

"She's incredibly relational with our players," Johnson said. "She invests in every teammate in our program and has high expectations and standards. Off the court, there's not a nicer, more connected, more engaged person, and that allows her to be successful in the position she's in."

Now a sophomore studying sports management with a minor in psychology, Orlet is a key contributor for the Lakers. She ranks among league leaders with 883 assists and has been named GLIAC Setter of the Week three times this season.

"Volleyball is a big team environment, and I've met some of my best friends playing this, and I could not imagine life without it," she said. "That's a big reason why I came to Grand Valley: the culture and the environment."

Orlet continues to receive chemotherapy, with no end date currently in sight. Because her cancer is so rare, her experience may also contribute to researchers' understanding of the disease.

"Even if I have to do chemo for 10-15 more years, at least I'm assisting the research," Orlet said. "That's something that I look to a lot when I'm having tough days."

"We say all the time that this disease is bigger than us, but the journey and the fight doesn't have to be," she added. "I'm finding a way that I can help, and how I can benefit people in the future in any sort of way."