Before she joined the Virginia women's lacrosse team, back in the fall of 1988, Jenny Levy had never really met anyone like herself.
Growing up in Baltimore, Levy had immersed herself in sports. And although many other girls her age had, as well, none matched her intensity, her passion or her competitive spirit, she said. Few came close even in her time with the Cavaliers.
Upon becoming North Carolina's women's lacrosse coach in 1994, Levy said many of her players also hadn't grown up around girls who shared their interests. Over time, though, as it's become more common and accepted for women to be as ambitious as Levy, both in and outside athletics, she hasn't heard her players make such comments.