Student-Athlete Spotlight
Alissa Alker
Volleyball
Senior
San Diego, Calif.
November 30, 2012
A senior, four-year member of the Women’s Volleyball team, Alissa is a business management and marketing double major, with a minor in international business at the University of Delaware.
Alissa is from San Diego, California (Scripps Ranch High School). Alissa serves as a co-captain with teammate Chelsea Lawrence. She has become the 17th player in Delaware history to amass over 1,000 kills.
During her tenure at Delaware, Alissa has led her Hens to 2 CAA conference championships and 2 NCAA tournament appearances.
1) What were your individual goals coming into this season?
To lead the team farther than any other blue hens team has ever gone before and to be player of the year in our conference. It's such a weird feeling knowing that you are about to end a chapter in your life and you have control over what you want to get out of it.
2) What were your expectations for the team coming into the season?
We have a lot of potential and talent and we just need to harness that power and learn how to execute in order to be successful. This season is my last chance to play as a division one athlete and I really just wanted to have fun and leave it all on the court.... The rest will take care of itself.
3) How are you taking from your experiences last season and implementing them this year?
Last season we had a tough preseason conference and come in and still won the CAA's. I have learned that it doesn't matter where you start so much in your season but what really counts is where you finish. This team is new just like every other year and we just need to become comfortable playing with each other. We have a tradition of working hard in the gym and trusting our training and I have fully bought into the system. We have always been a team that knows how to win and succeeds when things get hard and I fully intend to continue that UDVB tradition.
4) What made you want to study and play volleyball at Delaware?
I wanted to come to the east coast for college and experience something knew. I had not seriously considered Delaware until I visited the campus. I then fell in love with the team and the business school. Most importantly I saw growth in the program. I saw a team that was going somewhere and that played with a passion. I wanted to be a part of that environment and contribute to the success that UDVB had.
5) What is your major and why did you choose it?
Management and Marketing. I came into college a business undeclared major and after talking to my business major teammates and friends, I knew that management and marketing was for me. I love interacting with people and creating innovative and inspiring ideas, which is where the marketing side came into play, and always aspired to lead people and help foster successful environments. The management side definitely came from playing sports because as the years went on, my role on the team increased and led me to my leadership position today.
6) If not volleyball, what sport would you play and why?
I swam for most of my childhood before I started playing volleyball so if I had to choose, swimming would probably my next choice.
7) What has been your favorite class to take here at Delaware?
I thoroughly enjoyed sales-BUAD 471. I love interacting with people and sales could be a potential career path for me. The class evaluated different ways to approach different types of people and sell your product. It was interesting to see how salespeople need to be receptive to the type of people they are pitching to because it can make or break your deal. Also my teacher, Sandra Fields was the most wonderful teacher and made it fun to go to class everyday.
8) What are your plans after college?
I am attending Graduate School for business
9) What are your favorite non-athletic activities to do?
I love spending time with my family, going to the beach, shopping, and watching movies.
10) What has been your most memorable moment on the court here at UD?
My first championship will be something I will never forget. We played Northeastern, a team who had a good friend of mine from home on its roster, and the game was the most intense, grueling 5 game match I have ever played. The physical and mental exhaustion made the victory that much more sweet, plus I stuff blocked the player of the year for match point, winning the match set, 15-13.
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