Russ Rose Then (2008): “I thought the way Alyssa played in the last two matches of the [2007] season was the way I had hoped she would play all year. She has great skills and is willing to work hard and help the team. Alyssa is someone I expect to make major contributions to the team from the end line. She wants to be great and it shows in her efforts on a daily basis.”
Russ Rose Now (2025): “We had Alyssa in camp for several years before she committed. She’s one of three players at the division one level to have won four national championships, along with Arielle Wilson and Blair Brown. Alyssa was a hitter in club, and she was an incredible team player who worked hard every day and loved the game and respected the game. She has gone on to be a successful college coach. She’s at Utah now, but she had prior stops at Louisville and Dayton. She’s a leading candidate for a lot of head coaching jobs every year, and has been active with USA volleyball for several years with their winter training programs. She relates well to young people, and has a terrific resume that makes her attractive to a number of universities and athletic directors.”
2008 Season (Sophomore) Highlights and Awards: 2008 National Champion … Academic All-Big Ten.
Season Recap: Saw action in 36 of 38 matchs as a serving and defensive specialist … made 13 starts … rotated in for teammate Blair Brown in the back row … had at least one dig in 35 of her 36 matches … totaled 197 digs for the season to rank 5th on the team … started at libero for an injured Roberta Holehouse at Indiana (10/1), posting 9 digs, and versus Michigan State (10/4) where she tallied a career-high 13 digs … posted 8 digs at libero against Wisconsin (11/22).
NCAA Tournament: Had 2 aces and 5 digs against California (12/13) in the NCAA Regional Final … recorded 11 digs against Nebraska in the NCAA Semifinal … posted 8 digs against Stanford in the NCAA Championship match.
Before Penn State: Five-time volleyball and basketball letterwinner at Byron-Bergen High School in Bergen, N.Y. … three-year volleyball captain and two-year basketball captain for the Bees … three-time first team all-state selection … five-time Section V Class C Most Valuable Player (2002-2006), beginning in her eighth grade year … led the Bees to three New York state titles (2004-2006) and five sectional titles … captured four Genesee Regional League championships … finished with a five-year scholastic varsity record of 98-12 … ranked 33rd on PrepVolleyball’s ‘Senior Aces’ list … 2006-2007 New York State Gatorade Player of the Year … achieved the career milestones of 1,000 kills and digs during junior season … ended tenure with 1,879 kills and 1,521 digs … two-time basketball Most Valuable Player … was an alternate for the USA A2 Team in 2006 … member of the VolleyFX Magic Club program … helped the squad to a 17th-place Open finish at the 2006 Nationals … also claimed the titles at the 2001, 2002 and 2004 East Coast Championship and the 2003 Northeast Qualifier … excels off the court, ranking sixth in her class … member of the National Honor Society … Student Council Parliamentarian in 2006 … was selected as an alternate for American Legion Girls State … nominated as a Kodak Young Leader … acted as president of the Varsity Club, the yearbook editor and the leader of the Byron-Bergen Emergency Response Team.