More Than a Libero
The hardest season of her life made her stronger in every way. Creighton University’s Sydney Breissinger on Embracing the Struggle, Strength, and Starting Over –
It all happened fast.
Sydney Breissinger graduated from high school on May 21, 2023. Within 24 hours, she was flying to Omaha to begin training with the Creighton University volleyball team. No summer at home. No time to mentally prepare. Just straight into the next chapter—head first.
She didn’t get a transition period. She was the transition.
“You graduate—and then you go.”
That summer was packed. Two-a-days. Team bonding. A foreign tour to Italy and Slovenia. By the time school started in August, Sydney had already traveled the world with her new teammates—many of whom she barely knew when she boarded the plane.
It looked amazing from the outside. But inside, Sydney was not prepared for the massive mental pressure to come from every part of your new life chapter…
The Hits Felt Harder—Literally and Mentally
What Sydney didn’t expect was how much the game would change at the college level. She knew it would be faster. She knew it would be more intense.
But she didn’t know it would shake her confidence.
“No one talks about how the ball is hit so much harder in college,” she said.
“It felt like I was learning how to serve receive all over again.”
For someone who had always found peace in the game, this shook her. The court was no longer her safe space and volleyball stopped feeling familiar.
She was 10 hours away from home. Rooming with someone she had just met. Like many student athletes, Sydney was juggling labs and practices while trying to adapt as all freshmen do. Carrying pressure she hadn’t fully named yet. On top of it all, Sydney was competing to start as a freshman, defending against 4-year veterans at just 18 years old!
“When volleyball started falling apart, it felt like everything else in my life did too.”
The Breaking Point
Sydney didn’t really know how much she was struggling until her dad came to visit her for the first time.
It was just supposed to be a normal week—games, study sessions, dinners squeezed in between. But something about having someone close by, someone who really knew her, allowed her to let the walls down she hadn’t even known were built up inside her.
“Being able to voice it through with my dad is what changed.”
Between competing at a high level, managing her first semester of college coursework, investing in new friendships, and living on her own for the first time in her life… The tears came easily. And once they started, she couldn’t ignore the truth anymore.
Eventually, Sydney experienced a stress fracture… “That was just another big weight on my shoulders.”
Her dad later told her that after he left, he was almost certain he’d have to come back in a month—not to visit, but to move her home. However, Sydney, being the resilient athlete and driven young woman she is, proved him wrong!
Coaches Who Stepped In—Before She Had To Speak Up
Sydney hadn’t said anything. She hadn’t asked for help.
But soon her coaches saw it.
They pulled her aside after practice one day and asked how she was really doing. They offered her access to the team’s sports therapist, not because she asked—but because they cared.
“I wasn’t ready to ask for help,” Sydney said.
“That’s what made it so powerful. They saw it. They stepped in anyway.”
That moment changed everything. It showed her what true coaching is—not just about skill development, but about shaping people. Supporting them when they can’t quite support themselves.
“It shows you how much a coach can affect not only skill on the court, but everything at a college level.”
From Rock Bottom to Starting Libero
Just weeks after Sydney started therapy and began finding her footing, the team’s starting libero went down with a high ankle sprain.
Sydney had just returned from her own stress fracture. And suddenly—ready or not—she was stepping into one of the most mentally demanding roles on the court.
“I immediately assumed the starting role,” she said.
“And I stayed there the rest of the season.”
She anchored her team all the way to the NCAA Sweet 16. But even then, she carried guilt. In a team meeting the following year, she opened up and admitted she felt like she let everyone down during her freshman fall after they lost.
“They looked at me like I was crazy,” she said, laughing.
“I was beating myself up for something no one else was mad about.”
It was the first time she realized just how hard she’d been on herself in ways others didn’t even think of!
Learning to Choose Joy Again
With time (and therapy), Sydney rebuilt her mindset. She stopped “pushing her emotions away and started embracing them.”
She found joy in small wins. Started journaling. Built structure into her days. And she began to take back control—not by doing more, but by being more intentional.
Off the court, Sydney also found balance by broadening her circle. At Creighton, the coaching staff intentionally pairs freshmen athletes with roommates outside of their sport—a decision Sydney credits as a major part of her growth.
“Don’t let your roommate be your teammate,” she said.
“That was a choice made by our coaches, and I’d recommend it to every college athlete.”
It gave her space to be herself beyond volleyball—and reminded her she was more than just a position on the court.
That structure helped her find community beyond volleyball—it allows her to remember she’s more than a jersey number.
Her Advice to Her Younger Self?
Sydney doesn’t hesitate anymore, attacking her life and emotions head-on… just as she does on the court!
“Embrace the struggle. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
She’d tell her high school self it’s okay not to have it all together. That struggle doesn’t mean failure—it means growth.
“You can’t control everything. But you can always control your mindset.”
What It Means to Sport Your Passion
These days, Sydney is doing more than playing—she’s coaching. Passing on her love of the game to the next generation. Helping young girls find joy in volleyball just like she did.
“That’s how I sport my passion—by helping others fall in love with the game.”
Her story reminds us: It’s not about doing it perfectly—it’s about showing up, feeling what you feel, and choosing to keep going. Leaning into your support system, embracing community, and doing the inner work can strengthen your mental health in ways you never imagined.
“There were so many good days and learning moments,” she said.
“And I wouldn’t trade any of it.”
