The ball rises just above the net, hanging for a split second before the left side hitter approaches and swings. Her swing is quick; The ball hits the court and echoes through the gym. Adrenaline follows, a feeling she had not felt in years.
For a moment, everything else fades.
Aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), work is constant with high demands and expectations, and the distance from home feels greater out at sea. Sailors find themselves carrying pieces of home with them in ways most people do not expect.
For Logistics Specialist Seaman Kmory Price, home shows up in the rhythm of a volleyball game: in the quick rotations, in the small celebrations between plays, and in the brief moments where everything else dissipates except the ball, the court and the next move. That’s where balance lives.
Raised in Houston, Texas, Price grew up in a loud, active household as one of many siblings, who all played different sports. She picked up volleyball at 10 years old playing casual games with her family. Encouraged by her mother, Price continued to develop her skills and make volleyball something steadier.
“My mom forced me to play,” Price laughed. “She saw I was really good at it, so she kept pushing me.”
Now, years later, stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, thousands of miles from home and with a significant time difference, staying connected has become more difficult. The hours she spent speaking with her family shrunk to minutes, and reaching out began requiring intention. Far from that familiarity, Price has found herself returning to the sport for reasons beyond competition.
After learning about the ship’s volleyball team through a shipmate, Price joined in search for a return to something she loved.
During intense games, especially against other teams aboard the ship, Price describes entering a flow state.
“I was just thinking about the next ball,” Price said. “Not work. Not anything else.”
As a logistics specialist, her work often involves hours doing maintenance, tracking high-priority parts under pressure and managing the inventory that keeps the mission moving forward. Although Price describes that she values the responsibility, the constant long work days that don’t end until the job is complete start to weigh.
Volleyball provided a release for Price, a way to lift the pressure. It connects her to home and the days she would play with her mom, giving her peace of mind in days of chaos.
She has not only felt the impact on the court but it has now transitioned to her workspace on the ship.
Senior Sailors from her chain of command began taking time out of their schedule to watch her play, she describes how their support has strengthened her sense of belonging and has solidified their chemistry in the workspace.
“They come out to watch me and support,” Price said. “It makes work feel more at home than just a work environment.”
Stationed overseas at her first command, Price has learned to navigate the demands of her Navy career while holding onto the things that keep her grounded. Volleyball has become a place where discipline meet familiarity, where stress gives way to focus and where distance from home feels smaller.