It's hard to give a career like this up, when I tell my wife I'm going to the office, and it's the beach.

I never did. I only prepared to win the next day.

When you’ve done everything you can to train yourself for competition, you’ll sleep well when the tournament is over, win or lose.

I don't have to get myself pumped up or calm myself down. As we get into the later rounds of a tournament and there is more at stake, I have even more adrenaline. If we make the finals, it's just an extra opportunity to win a tournament at my age. That doesn't come along that often.

Playing against better competition makes you better and more focused, so you can do what you have to, to win.

Physically I'm not as strong as I was, but I try to make up for it mentally. It's a big challenge, and I relish it, competing with guys half my age.

Not everything you're going to do in volleyball - or in life, for that matter - is exciting or fully functional, but if you have the willpower to make each minute count, you'll benefit in some way. And it will make you a better player and a better person in the long run.