MISSION FIRST: Mother And Daughter In Arms

Gillis Field House was standing room only. Those in attendance could barely hear what the person next to them was cheering, but at the same time could hear all the action taking place on the court. The cadet fan section, filled with painted chests and fatheads of the athletes, was rowdy with excitement as the Army West Point volleyball team continued to perform well throughout a five-set battle against service academy rival Navy.

All eyes were on center court, but there was one fan who was watching one player in particular from afar. While on deployment in Afghanistan, this particular fan was cheering just as loud as those in attendance. And that was Master Sgt. Michelle Edwards, mother of recently commissioned Second Lieutenant Vanessa Edwards, who was then a senior setter on the team.

There was a secret amongst the coaches and support staff as the match continued to stretch over five sets. A secret that would cause even more cheers if the Black Knights were able to hold on and proceed to victory.

In the final set, Army won the match 3-2 to clinch the Star and storm the court, but the giddiness did not end there.

As the tumult suppressed and the alma maters were played, the public address announcer regained the attention of the crowd for a momentous announcement.

Head coach Alma Kovaci Lee, grinning from ear to ear, gave away no hints to the players that had confused looks on their faces as they stood on the end line awaiting the news. Then the announcement was made and more cheers of appreciation filled the field house and the Army base in Afghanistan.

Vanessa Edwards had eclipsed 2,000 career assists during the 3-2 win over Navy.

Vanessa deciding on a path that would lead her to the military was not a surprise to her family, which had a plethora of members in the armed forces. Her mother, father, uncle and both grandfathers had been in the military and their commitment to service had been instilled upon Vanessa at a young age.

"Her mom is one of her biggest role models," says Edwards' best friend on the team, Nicole Perri. "Vanessa's decision to come to West Point and to serve her country stems from somewhere and being that both of her parents were in the military had influenced that. She made them proud by coming to West Point and serving her country, and being able to play volleyball along the road was an added bonus."

Kovaci Lee knew that Edwards was the type of player she wanted on her team, and the type of player that would be a perfect fit for the U.S. Military Academy. Kovaci Lee saw her at a tournament while recruiting and couldn't get Edwards out of her head.

"I first saw Vanessa at a recruiting tournament and she wasn't even setting," Kovaci Lee recalls. "She was passing and playing defense. Vanessa had this infectious energy and passion for the game that combined with great athleticism which made her unique. You could even tell then, that she was someone special and was born to be a positive and inspiring leader."

Kovaci Lee wasn't the only one who saw distinct leadership qualities in Vanessa. Those qualities were evident to her teammates, mother and those in the Admissions Office at West Point.

"I was enormously proud of Vanessa for choosing to go to West Point," says mother Michelle. "I think she is a shining star and I think she was born to be a leader."

Commitment is a common theme for the Edwards family as Michelle had shown unconditional love and support to Vanessa from a young age, all stemming around the sport of volleyball.

"When I started playing volleyball she was very adamant that, if I was going to do something, I was going to put all of my effort towards it," Vanessa reflects. "I remember before I had my driver's license, she would get off of work and not even come inside and would pick me up and she would take me to practices and games, and support me the whole time. She wanted me to give 100 percent, but she also gave me 100 percent in whatever I was doing."

Although she was away from home, Vanessa still carried the mindset of giving 100 percent into something, and it was noticed by Kovaci Lee and the team.

"I believed in her from 'Day One,'" says Kovaci Lee. "She wanted to learn, she loves the game and is one of the hardest workers I've ever had the pleasure to coach. Vanessa would have an hour off some days and would ask if I was available to help her. Vanessa was in it 100 percent. She believed in the power of the team and wanted everyone to be successful on and off the court and therefore, she spent a lot of time talking to players and coaches. Vanessa wanted to learn so she could better serve the team. She did not start her first year but her attitude, desire and work ethic never changed; it got better as the year progressed."

Vanessa's development at the Academy throughout her first three years would irrevocably prepare her for the news that she would receive before her Firstie year. She began her senior season on the Army volleyball team with a heavy bearing; that her mother, her number one fan and supporter, would be on deployment and therefore would not be able to attend a single game in person. However, the admiration Vanessa had for her mother outweighed any sadness she may have had in the situation because of the family's ties to the military and their commitment to service.

"I was here at the Academy when my mom told me she was being deployed," Vanessa remembers. "I was happy for her because she was a Senior Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) and it was a good place to see how far her career had taken her. It was really exciting, but then I realized that she wouldn't be here for events such as Ring Weekend and Senior Night – these huge milestones that I would love to have her here for and I was sad. I had wished she was able to be there, but I understood."

Kovaci Lee saw a change in the way the three-year starter played during her final year in the West Point uniform.

"Vanessa would feed off her parents' energy and excitement in the game and that didn't change with her mother's deployment," Kovaci Lee says. "I feel like I have learned a lot more from Vanessa than she has learned from me. The team respected her encouragement and her leadership style. Everyone did. Her mother, Michelle, is her hero. She has been by Vanessa's side through her college career, and no matter the distance, she has been there helping her through life at West Point."

Although her mom was not able to be there physically, the support she had shown Vanessa helped her through her final year as a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy and gave her a new appreciation for her mother.

"I missed her so much," confesses Vanessa. "She is doing what I will be doing after graduation and after I commission as an officer. So, I think that was why we talked more than we have ever talked before. She is not only just my mom anymore, she is a Senior NCO and mentor for me now.

Her mother did not want to keep any secrets from Vanessa, the person in their family that was most likely next on the list for deployment. She also noticed a paradigm shift in their dynamic, one that would give confidence to any mother that knew their daughter would soon be on the battlefield.

"We talked about what my deployment was like," Michelle explains. "I wanted her to know what she is in for so we would talk about that a lot. Vanessa and I were very close before I left for deployment. It has changed in some ways like when we talk on the phone now instead of me asking her how she is doing, what she needs or what I can send her. It has transformed to her worrying about me and asking me what I need and sending me care packages."

Vanessa still counted on her mom though, if not for basic needs, for mental support as her time as a Black Knight came to a close.

"My mom was the one I called when I had four papers due and had a really stressful week," Vanessa says. "She was always on the phone with me before the games and after the games, she was so encouraging and still is. She always watched the games online when she couldn't make it in person and it really meant a lot this year especially. We had tournaments in the past in California and she would meet me there and watch the games. She has been one of my biggest fans."

The support Michelle provided her daughter was infectious. It wasn't just felt by Vanessa, but also by the coaching staff and even the players. It was astounding that even halfway around the world, the positive impact that her mom could make.

"Vanessa would talk to her mom before every single game," Perri says. "She would be on video chat with her, kind of like her pregame ritual. Every time that she would talk to her mom, Vanessa would be so excited. I think honestly that even though she was in Afghanistan, their relationship had grown tremendously."

Upon graduation, Vanessa was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in the presence of her mother and military family. She joins the ranks of her family members in arms, but especially the ranks of her mother.

"Words cannot express how proud I am of Vanessa," her mother confesses proudly. "I can't explain how lucky I feel to be her mom and what an honor it's going to be to serve with her at the same time in the military."

Army West Point Athletics

MISSION FIRST: Mother And Daughter In Arms

Related News

Players Mentioned

Vanessa Edwards

Nicole Perri

Related Videos