On September 11-12, 2009, Madonna University will once again host the Julie Martin Memorial Classic in memory of former Madonna volleyball player and graduate, Julie Martin. Unfortunately, Julie was taken from us in late August, 2000, a victim of cancer. The Madonna coaching staff and volleyball family agreed that from that point forward, the annual tournament would be named for one of our dearest friends.

Julie was a star in every sense of the word. She came to Madonna a shy, introverted freshman and left a well established, confident woman. Along the way, she also made her mark on Madonna University and, especially, on her teammates and friends.

As a player, Julie was second to none. She dominated the net in a way not many players can at the collegiate level. She worked hard in every facet of the game to develop her conditioning, her blocking and her hitting. Her work helped Madonna to three NAIA National Tournaments in her four year career. In 1996 she was named a second team All-American.

While her volleyball accomplishments are impressive, they pale compared to the person and friend she was. Every one of us who had the pleasure to know Julie remembers a wonderful human being. She was, quite simply, as nice and as good as they come. No fancy words are needed to describe her. She was who she was. She put on no false fronts-no phoniness. Julie was Julie. She effected more lives in her short stay with us than most do in a lifetime. Though her physical presence may no longer be in the gym, Julie Martin will always be there. Every time we enter the gym, Julie is in our hearts and assuredly in someone's thoughts. Madonna volleyball has never had a better member to its family.

In 2002 Madonna University held the first of what has become an annual Julie Martin Memorial Scholarship dinner. Proceeds from the event which is held the evening before the start of the annual tournament in her name, will go directly to a scholarship fund set up in Julie's name.

This tournament and scholarship fund will continue to remind all of us that life is short. More importantly, hopefully it will force us to live life like Julie Martin. She was the perfect role model for living life. Simple. Sweet. Honest. Sincere. It was so simple for her to be that way. At least she sure made it seem simple. This is, perhaps, the lesson we all should learn from our friend.

Julie will be missed. But, she will be forever in the hearts of Madonna Volleyball.