St. Andrews Women's Volleyball Player finds her place volunteering at hometown club

"Miami Select has been a really big part of my life because it's very family oriented," Alvarez said. "It's very hard in a big city to find volleyball clubs that are like that. That was the best experience that I had. They are very big on being family oriented, coaches care about you, staff care, and everyone is there to support you." 

 

The positive experience led the business major to want to give back in a way that she had so many others do for her. During her summer break, she decided to give her time at the club, helping out where she was needed. 

 

"I asked if they needed any help...and they let me know, you're going to help this coach," Alvarez said. "One day, that coach couldn't come in. The owners of the club ended up showing up and asked me to coach, and they actually invited me, once I graduate to coach three teams of my own." 

 

The participants time at the club lasted a full seven days at the beginning or the end of the summer. In between those times, there were clinic-style practices. She worked with several different age groups, ranging from six to 16 years old. Her goal was to give the players under her care a similar experience to what she had when she was in their shoes. Simultaneously, Alvarez received a reward for her efforts in ways that she may not have been expecting. 

 

"I had a great experience coaching," Alvarez said. "I made such fun and strong relationships with all the girls I met. I even helped them outside of the camps and all that stuff...it also helps me myself play my own sport because now, I'm looking at it in a different perspective because I'm trying to teach it. And when I'm teaching them, I'm also teaching myself." 

 

She will take that new perspective into her final season of collegiate volleyball when the Knights kick off their 2024 campaign on Saturday, August 17, at Sandhills Community College.