Russ Rose Then (2009): “Nummy has played a key role in our two national championships and during her first two seasons continues to show great leadership with the team and to focus on what the team’s needs are to continue to contribute. I think she’s going to be in the mix to be the libero or a key back row player. But most important, I think she’s oneof our main leaders on the team. To me, that’s the most important thing. I don’t care who plays, but I care who can lead and there’s no question that she’s prepared for that.”
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.”
2009 Season (Junior) Highlights and Awards: 2009 National Champion … Academic All-Big Ten … Active Ankle Challenge All-Tournament Team (8/29) … Duke Invitational Most Outstanding Libero (9/12).
Season Recap: Played in all 38 matches and 122 sets at libero … led the team with 62 aces and 433 digs, averaging 3.55 digs per set … led the team in digs 24 times … totaled 39 digs in three matches at the Active Ankle Challenge hosted by No. 20 Saint Louis (8/28-29) … posted a career-high 5 aces against Buffalo (9/4) … led the team with 14 digs against Robert Morris (9/5) … combined for 38 digs in 3 matches at the Duke Invitational (9/11-12) … tied her career high with 5 aces vs. Saint Francis (9/19) … had a team-best 15 digs vs. Temple (9/19) … recorded 25 digs and 2 aces at Northwestern and Illinois (9/25-26) … had 10 digs and 2 aces vs. Iowa (10/2) … combined for 27 digs in matches at Michigan and Michigan State (10/16-17) … recorded 11 digs and 3 aces vs. Indiana (10/23) … had a match-high 13 digs vs. Ohio State (10/28) … totaled 27 digs and 4 aces in matches at Wisconsin and Iowa (11/6-7)… combined for 31 digs in matches at Purdue and Indiana (11/20-21).
NCAA Tournament: Led the team with 14 digs vs. Florida (12/11) … tied her career high with 5 aces vs. California (12/12) … had 19 digs vs. Hawaii (12/17) in the NCAA National Semifinals … registered a career-high 22 digs in the reverse-sweep win over Texas (12/19) 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.