By TORI ADDISON
Staff Writer
When it comes to sports, there are none quite like volleyball for senior Alexandra Gagliano, “I love volleyball because it is so different from any other sport. It is all about reaction time and speed. Playing volleyball keeps your mind running and there’s no time to stop and think.” Gagliano started playing volleyball in seventh grade after trying out for the modified team. She was instantly hooked, “I knew it was something that I would enjoy playing in the coming years.” Since then, she has been busy making a name for herself at Saint Rose. Of all the factors to consider when choosing a college, her decision was mainly based on location, class size, and proximity from home. Luckily, Saint Rose met all her expectations. Not to mention, the girls who she spent time with during her overnight volleyball visit helped to make her decision a bit easier. “They are still some of my best friends”, she said.
The transition into playing at the college level was not so simple for Gagliano, but it became easier over time. The biggest challenge for her was adjusting to the pace of play at the college level, which was a bit overwhelming at first. While freshman year was more of a learning experience, Gagliano felt that sophomore year was when she really started to settle into the fast paced level of competition. Throughout her collegiate volleyball career, she has become a huge blocking threat. She says, “My strengths are my blocking and hitting. As a middle hitter, blocking should be your main priority. I take pride in leading the front row defense and protecting the back row.” Over the past two seasons Gagliano has led the team and ranked fourth in the NE-10 with blocks per-set. She has also found that hitting angles to get around tough blockers to be strength of hers, which is something she loves to do.
While it is hard for her to choose the most memorable moment she has had while playing at Saint Rose, she says that competing in the 2011 Northeat-10 Conference Championship is at the top of her list. Although the team did not win, the experience was great. Most importantly, volleyball has helped her develop into the player she is today. Gagliano thanks not only the team and coaches, but also her parents for helping her succeed as a player, “Our team pushes each other every day in practice. My coaches have also never stopped pushing me with positive energy and encouraging thoughts. My family also plays a huge role in my volleyball life. My parents come to almost every game to cheer us on.”
As far as school goes, Gagliano is use to juggling homework and volleyball. Not only is she a Dean’s List student, but she also has been named to the fall and spring semester NE-10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll since her freshman year. The next step in her career is to attend graduate school to earn her Masters degree in education. While volleyball is an important part of her life, she also wants to focus on finding the perfect job after she earns her degrees. To her, playing at Saint Rose has helped her learn many things, most importantly, the need for accountability, “When each player on your team is held accountable for their duties on the court, great things can happen,” she said, “I have learned that, especially in volleyball, energy and fun are two main components. Without that, the job does not get done.”
As for upcoming players with dreams of playing at the college level, Gagliano offers a few words of advice. “I would definitely advise other athletes to make the most out of their college career. Four years goes by in the blink of an eye and the last thing you want is to think ‘what if?’ Work as hard as you can in college because it may be the last time you that are a part of a team,” she says. There is no doubt Gagliano has proven that nothing is impossible throughout her time at Saint Rose. It is not easy being a top notch competitor as well as a dedicated student, but she sure knows how to make it happen.
