CHARLESTON, W.Va. — October is Blind Awareness Month and boundaries are being broken. An initiative led by Samarthanam Trust and The Cricket Association for the Blind in India has brought blind cricket to the United States. The sport is making waves with the first U.S. Women's team gearing up to head to India and Sri Lanka for the first Women's T20 Cricket World Cup for the Blind.

One of the players making history is from West Virginia. Tatyana Tolliver-Hughes appeared on ARC Appalachia to share how she became involved in the sport.

Tolliver-Hughes learned about the plan to develop a blind cricket team in January during her final year at Washington University. After graduation, she started traveling to San Jose, Cali., to learn the game, train and eventually try out for the team. During this time, she also attended the Colorado Center for the Blind. She said being involved in the National Federation of the Blind and American Council of the Blind opened the door for this opportunity. The 21-year-old admits she had no idea how to play the sport but was on board to learn.

“This is my first time playing an accessible sport specifically built for the blind or visually impaired,” Tolliver-Hughes said.

The game is made accessible for the visually impaired by using a ball that rattles, so players can hear where the ball is during play. That ball is rolled to the batter, who then sweeps the bat along the ground in an 180-degree motion to hit the ball. The U.S. Women’s Cricket team consists of 16 players.

“I’m so excited to go to India and Sri Lanka,” she said. “It’s really just been a once in a lifetime opportunity that’s honestly fallen into my lap. I’m so grateful to go and represent my country and the team that I’m with. It’s such a diverse, dynamic group of women of all different ages, ethnicities and languages. It’s so amazing.”

Tolliver-Hughes said the sport has taught her about teamwork, collaborating with others to achieve the same goal. She said in middle and high school she was able to participate in more individualized sports including track, swimming and show choir and in college she participated in Jui Jitsu.

“Being on a team where you do have to encourage your teammates, you have to learn what everybody’s preference is when they’re playing and really catering to that – that’s something that’s been really important for me to learn and something I’m so grateful to have experienced," she said.

The cricket player also expressed her passion to share the sport with her family. Tolliver-Hughes said having a sport she can play with her siblings is very important to her. She also wants her younger brothers and sister to be open and welcome inclusivity and accessibility.

“I want these kids and my siblings to know that if they come across friends or peers that are blind, deaf or have any other disability, there are ways to make sports and activities accessible for them,” she said.

The Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind begins Nov. 11 in New Delhi. The U.S. will hit the field on Nov. 13 against Sri Lanka. You can keep up with results on the Cricket Association for the Blind USA’s Facebook page.