Home Away from Home

Family brought Luke Luckfield to the game of volleyball and has kept him in it, through highs and lows.

Luckfield, a senior men's volleyball player at William Penn, first discovered the sport watching his older cousin play.

"Seeing these big guys play volleyball was the coolest thing ever," he said.

He got his own start at a small middle school, guided closely by his mom. That early support helped him build a strong foundation for the game he grew to love. Years later, it would carry him thousands of miles from home.

Originally from Hawai'i, Luke was recruited to WPU, and while the distance from his family was intimidating, he felt an instant connection with the team.

"I was set up with the funniest guys for a Zoom call," he recalled. "After that call, I realized that I wanted to be around these guys, no matter how skilled the team was. They were so open and welcoming to me."

His transition to college life was made easier knowing his family back home was just a call away. "Because of my phone, they are just a call away. I am always able to just call them or text them. I wasn't worried about missing them because I could always call."

But during his junior year, Luke's world shifted.  His grandmother passed away, and with her loss came a flood of anxiety and homesickness.

"All that worry came over me. What if my other grandma dies? What if I'm not there for her? What if I'm not there for my family? What will happen to my family?"

That's when his team showed up—not just as teammates, but as family.

"My teammates aren't afraid of having hard conversations," Luke said. "I didn't want to tell them, but Coach did. They sat me down and we talked. They wanted me to realize that this is not something you have to do by yourself. They gave me the empathy and sympathy that I needed in that moment."

"My teammates were my home-away-from-home family. All of these amazing guys stepped out of nowhere to be there for me. They didn't focus on the loss, but on how to handle the future and the now."

Even with that support, Luke still struggled as his love for volleyball began to fade. He considered walking away.

"I was still having a really difficult time. I was doing volleyball, volleyball, volleyball, and I ended up not liking it as much. One day, I told Coach (Luke) Bentley that I did not want to come back because I was scared to not be there for my family."

Coach Bentley's response stuck with him.

"He told me that in the last three years, I have taken a chance at William Penn University and I need to look back on those three years and think: Has anything done me wrong?"

That moment changed everything.

"I met so many amazing guys who guided me and gave me a family away from home. They all pushed me to be a better person. I wanted to focus on the hard work I did with them."

That work paid off. Despite modest beginnings, Luke's dedication earned him more playing time each season. In his sophomore year, he saw the court five times and tallied 18 digs. As a junior, he logged nine appearances and 32 digs. 

During summer break, Luke returned home to Hawai'i to reset.

"My family recharged my battery. It was the perfect timing."

The mental clarity helped him refocus in his senior season, both on and off the court.

In his final season, he played in 20 games and recorded 60 digs, helping to anchor the team's defense.

"My growth has shown through my playing time this year and handling all of the difficult situations. I am trying to give [my teammates] the experiences that I have and help them stay invested in the team. There were moments when I felt I wasn't invested and needed to reel myself back in. I can face hardships so much better now."

His growth as a leader has become just as important as his contributions on the court.

"It doesn't matter what happened in the past. I can't change that. It's about the next ball. That has really helped for a lot of the games this year."

Luke credits mentors like assistant coach Mikey Cox for helping him stay grounded.

"Mikey has been a mentor this year. We've had so many moments where he tells me to take a breath—and then I go and play some of the best games I have ever played."

Before the season opener, Luke forgot his jersey. He was nervous, thinking that the forgotten jersey was a bad omen, but Cox's words stuck with him.

"He came up to me and said, 'No matter what happened, be ready to play. Be focused on the game. Be ready to go in because we still need you.'"

Luke delivered, recording six digs in a 3-2 road win over Grand View. Later in the season, the Statesmen swept the No. 7-ranked Vikings 3-0 at home.

He also found strength in former teammates, Anthony Torres and Devyn Zavala.

"They each pushed me to be a better person and player. We got reps together and pushed each other when we weren't motivated. I had so much fun with them. Some of my favorite moments were just sitting and talking together. My teammates are what I'm going to miss the most."

As his final season wraps up, Luke hopes the impact he has made on others goes beyond the stat sheet.

"At the end of the year, we say what we're thankful for to each and every individual on the team. I want to hear that I made an impact on their lives. That's my biggest goal. I didn't only impact them in volleyball, I impacted them somewhere else. I was there for them when they needed it."

After graduation, Luke plans to pursue a software engineering career on the 'mainland'. But before he leaves, he wanted to send one final message to his coach.

"Thank you, Coach Bentley, for putting this team together and allowing us to grow as people. You have made this a home away from home. You have been so welcoming. There aren't enough words to describe who you are as a person and as a coach."