Steeling herself for the spotlight, Taylor Agost took a deep breath and walked out onto the court.
That hasn't always been as easy as it sounds for the Oregon volleyball standout. For much of her career, taking the court conjured anxiety as much as pleasure. There was pressure to perform her best, for the teammates at her side and for the fans in the seats.
This time was different, though. This was back in April, at the men's basketball Final Four. Tournament organizers had sought a student-athlete from each of the participating schools to help sing the national anthem.