Athlete Spotlight: Alexis Albright

While fighting hard to lead her team toward victory once again, junior volleyball player and political science major Alexis Albright uses her love for the sport and respect for her role models to fuel her hard work.   

Albright was a key player in the previous year’s winning streak. The Lady Patriots won their regular season and used the momentum to propel them past their opponents in the Conference Carolinas tournament which earned them a bid to the regional tournament.  

After making it to regionals, they lost to the #1 seed, Lenoir Rhyne University. Despite this, the post-season awards named Albright third team all-conference for the 2021-2022 season.   

Following their winning season last year, Albright and the rest of the Lady Patriots are determined to defend their titles and earn some new ones. Albright said she is excited about the new season, but not solely because of the success they saw last year.  

“Our expectations for this season are high, but not because of what happened last season, but because we know that this team has a lot of talent,” Albright said. “As defending champions and being first in the preseason poll, we know that means we have a target on our backs, and therefore we should work even harder.”     

The team prepares for the upcoming season by participating in pre-season tournaments. Although they did not achieve the results they wanted, Albright felt they grew from it.  

“We definitely learned from the tournament this past weekend,” Albright said. “It is important to face adversity so you can learn how to overcome it, and I think that we were taught valuable lessons.”  

With her status as an upperclassman, Albright transitioned into a leadership role on the volleyball team. To lead her team forward, Albright said she focused on personal and team-oriented goals.   

“My personal goal is to be everything I need to be for the team to be successful and feel comfortable with a leadership role because I am one of the upperclassmen,” Albright said. “Team goals are to get 1% better every day and have a lengthy post-season run through regionals and learn to compete at a national level.”   

Earning her spot on the Patriots and within the conference did not happen automatically. Similarly to how the Lady Patriots work for incremental growth, Albright’s volleyball career is a product of years of effort.  

“I started playing volleyball in elementary school because my parents put me in it when I was frustrated about not having the ball come to me a lot in tee ball or soccer,” Albright said. “I took to it right away because of the fast and competitive nature of the sport.”  

While Albright said she loves the sport, that love is not always the primary motivator for her hard work. Albright uses volleyball as an outlet for heartbreak as well.   

“I have my volleyball number tattooed on my arm, but it is also in honor of my dad, who passed away December 7, 2020,” Albright said. “It reminds me that I am in a new season of life and to enjoy every moment. I also like to think it brings me a little luck because it is lucky number seven.”  

Albright also looks to her role models in her life for inspiration.   

“My role models are my coach because she gives me so much valuable advice and is such a competitor, and my dad, who made me who I am and was a wonderful person overall,” Albright said. “I hope I can be half of the people they are.”