CENTER VALLEY, Pa (Oct. 8, 2025) -- On Thursday October 2nd, the DeSales University volleyball team held their second annual dedication match for Morgan's Message, an organization working to destigmatize athletes' mental health. The team has been active in Morgan's Message for the past three years.
Morgan's Message began in honor of Morgan, a lacrosse player at Duke University, who took her own life in 2022, after battling an injury acquired in her sophomore season. The organization works to eliminate the stigma around student athlete mental health. They are working to equalize the treatments of physical and mental health in athletics.
The cause committee, a group of athletes who are tasked with choosing an organization to focus on during the season, chose Morgan's Message. For the dedication game versus Dickinson College the team made ribbons for spectators and athletes and created posters with encouraging messages to hang around the gym. Before the game, junior Bryanna Purisima spoke to the spectators about Morgan's Message.
The cause committee shared what Morgan's Message means to them.
Bryanna Purisima, junior, "Morgan's Message means to much more than just raising awareness for struggling athletes. It highlights the significance of mental health and its impact on a person's life. Mental health affects both your brain and your physical health and ability. It is such an important message because it sheds light on the importance of mental health in athletes. During this game we honor Morgan and help generations of athletes to come!"
Mackenzie Fox, junior, "Morgan's Message is meaningful because it reminds us that it is okay to not be okay, and that mental health deserves just as much care as physical health. Morgan's story shows the importance of talking about what we are going through and supporting each other instead of staying silent. This cause matters to me because it creates a community where no one had to feel alone. It encourages all of us to see asking for help as a sign of strength.
Veda Doxzen, sophomore, "Morgan's Message highlights how important mental health is and how big of an impact it has over your life. Mental health for student-athletes is often overlooked; however, Morgan's Message is a way to show that your feelings are valid and matter. To me, Morgan's Message is a way to come together, support anyone struggling and encourage them to seek out any help they need."
Brooke Signorella, sophomore, "Morgan's Message is meaningful to me because it shines a light on mental health struggles that athletes often face but do not talk about. Many athletes feel pressured to be strong, physically and mentally, which makes it hard to admit when they are struggling. Morgan's story is a powerful reminder of how serious mental health struggles can be, even for people who feel strong on the outside. Her message continues to inspire athletes to speak up about what they are going through and to care for their mental health as much as their physical health. It shows mental health matters as much as performance and no one should ever feel like they are facing their struggles alone."
