The gym is filled with strong, tall, and athletic college volleyball players, who are nearing the end of another volleyball practice. A 5-year-old girl runs in with her father, carrying a ball of her own to practice with on the other side of the gym. She may not be as tall as her University of Iowa volleyball friends, but she is just as strong and mighty.

Lucy Jane Roth has been a fighter since the age of two when doctors found a rare, softball-sized malignant tumor in her brain. She underwent a 12-hour surgery to remove the growing tumor, which could not be completely removed because blood vessels had grown through it. The surgery left her paralyzed on the right side, but she has since re-learned to walk.

Lucy's weekly routine isn't one of a normal 5-year-old. It includes physical and occupational therapy sessions to improve her mobility and use of the right side of her body, chemotherapy treatments, and doctor appointments. She will likely face a second surgery and radiation in the future.

Despite the tough experiences she has had in her young life, Lucy remains a happy, energetic, and joyful girl. She truly loves life and as her father, Damien, says, she has never met a stranger.

Her father grew up with UI head coach Bond Shymansky. After hearing about Lucy, Shymansky wanted to do anything he could to help. She was invited to practice and the Hawkeyes took it from there, embracing Lucy as part of their family.

"It's really inspiring to have her around," junior Julianne Blombergsays. "The first day she came to visit, she was following us around and asked for someone to play with her. I took her on a tour of Carver-Hawkeye Arena, walked around with her, and showed her fun stuff that seems normal to us, but she found really cool. We bonded when that happened."

Lucy has had a profound impact on the Hawkeye volleyball team and staff. She has been a shining example of taking a positive approach to life.

"As a father it's heartbreaking to see Damien and his wife, Heather, going through such a difficult challenge with little Lucy," Shymansky said. "She's such an energetic, precious, and upbeat little kid. She doesn't know she has it rough, which is amazing.

"It often reminds me that whatever challenges I have personally or professionally as a coach, that they're nothing compared to that and that they're not insurmountable. Having her around is a great reminder of resilience, positivity, and nonstop energy toward making every day a great day."

"Sometimes I'm working hard and trying to achieve a goal in volleyball, I'm tired and am feeling like everything is going wrong," Blomberg says. "I'll have a day like that and then she'll come into the gym and put a smile on my face.

"Our problems are miniscule compared to what she has to go through on a daily basis. It puts things in perspective and makes you realize there are things bigger than volleyball. She has become part of our family, and we love having her around."

The experience has also been an emotional one for the Roth family.

"I could see Lucy with them a million times and it would never get old," Damien says. "You have all of these tall, strong, athletic ladies and then this tiny girl who runs up to them. They embrace her and make her feel special. She's the center of attention, they play with her, and it means the world to us.

"She has to endure so much difficulty every day of her life and to watch your little child suffer so much is hard. To be able to do something like this, to have something we look forward to, is nice."