Dreams really do come true. Just ask Dani Apted.

The senior volleyball co-captain doesn’t have the same story of recruitment and four years of scholarship as many of her teammates do. Instead, the St. Louis native remembers the beginning of her Saint Louis University volleyball career as a hard-fought battle.

“I walked onto the team, so I didn’t get recruited,” Apted said. “I came here because I liked the school, I liked what it had to offer. I came to a camp before my freshman year, and that was my tryout. I remember my mom crying during a drill because it was so hard, but I was invited to preseason, and I told my mom, `I’m going to do this. I’m going to walk onto this team. I’m going to travel, and I’m going to play.'”

Her freshman year, Apted kept the promise she made to her mother. Not only did Apted walk on, she traveled and she played.

As a freshman, Apted appeared in 22 matches, and was an outstanding defensive specialist off the bench. She tallied 70 defensive digs and seven service aces during the season, including 11 kills in two matches against Conference-USA foes Memphis and UAB.

During her sophomore season, Apted played in all 33 matches, and finished fourth on the team in service aces with 22. Apted became more of a force on the Billiken defense, notching 269 digs, including 20 against UAB in the C-USA Tournament,, and career-high 22 digs against Eastern Illinois. Apted also played a key role at the Southwest Missouri State Invitational, digging 11 balls, helping SLU win the tournament.

As a junior, Apted earned her hard-fought position as a scholarship team member. She played in all 31 matches, and nearly matched her sophomore season dig total, digging 262 balls.

Apted not only contributed to the team defensively, but tried to contribute offensively as well. She had her first kill of the season in the match against Georgia, and had the kill that ended the first-round C-USA Tournament match against Marquette, in addition to her 14 digs.

This year, Apted continues to be a dominant member of the Billiken squad, consistently leading the team in digs. However, Apted’s incredible attitude has earned her as much recognition as her defensive abilities.

“Dani is a great leader,” said head coach Marilyn Nolen. “She may be diminutive in size, but she’s mighty. She’s an incredibly driven person.”

“Dani’s the kind of person who gets frustrated when people aren’t doing their best, whether it’s in a game or in practice, or in academics, or in anything really,” Nolen said.

“I’m very, very thankful for everything I’ve had,” Apted said. “I will do absolutely everything I can in return.”

After graduation, Apted hopes to still be involved with volleyball, and has the means to be extremely successful in the sport in the future.

“My dream is to coach, to give back to the sport what I’ve learned, and to learn even more,” Apted said.

“Dani is exactly the kind of person that would be wonderful for women’s athletics, and would bring a lot to coaching, perhaps in the NCAA. She looks at the game from a mature standpoint, and sees the bigger picture of the game,” Nolen said.

Apted has the ability to see not only the dynamics of the sport of volleyball in a broader sense, but athletics and life itself. She has the ability to do what few athletes at the collegiate and even the professional level can do: to play with her whole heart, and truly love every moment.

“I’ve learned to always remember to play for love,” Apted said. “To play with your whole heart, to give it all, to never take anything for granted. It’s been amazing.”