LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball program, through Team IMPACT, will sign Christia Dozier, a nine-year-old girl, to a National Letter of Intent during a "Draft Day" ceremony Thursday at 11:30 am in Meeting Room C on the east side of the Thomas & Mack Center, head coach Dawn Sullivan announced.
 
Through Team IMPACT's program, Christia will become a member of the volleyball team and will attend Rebel practices, games, team dinners, events and more.
 
Christia, who was born in Atlanta, was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease in 2010 prior to her first birthday, and has since undergone scheduled monthly blood transfusions. She suffered a stroke when she was five years old, and was thus nicknamed "The Miracle Princess" by her father. During her recovery from the stroke, she grew to love rock climbing through therapy sessions. Additionally, she loves the color pink and anything that is sparkly.
 
Christia and her family moved to Las Vegas less than a year ago after connecting with Sunrise Hospital and Dr. Rashid, and the Ronald McDonald House.
 
Team IMPACT is a non-profit headquartered in Boston, that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. Since 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more that 1,800 children with more than 600 colleges and universities in 49 states, reaching over 50,000 participating student-athletes. The child joins the athletic team and the student-athletes join the child's support team. Throughout the journey, the child gains strength, camaraderie and support while the student-athletes experience lessons of courage, resiliency and perspective they can't learn in the classroom.
 
Team IMPACT has more than 1,200 teams waiting to be matched with children, ages 5-16, who have been diagnosed with serious or chronic illness and who could benefit from becoming a member of the team. If you know of a child who may be interested, visit goteamimact.org for more information.