The email arrived at 11:47 PM on a Tuesday, and Leo read it seven times before he believed it.
Dear Coach Cruz,
My name is Elena Vasquez. I am the mother of Mateo Vasquez, a 14-year-old volleyball player. We recently moved to Westbrook from San Juan, Puerto Rico, after Hurricane Maria destroyed our home. Mateo is 5'4" and has been told by every coach he's too short to play at a high level.
He saw your team play at the state championship. He watched you on the sidelines. He came home and said, "That coach is short too."
Mateo wants to try out for your team. He is talented. He is fierce. He is small. He needs a chance.
Are you willing to give him one?
Leo stared at the screen. 5'4". Fourteen years old. Too short for every coach.
He'd been there.
He typed back: “Tryouts are Saturday a
