Right-side (opposite) hitter on the Colorado State University volleyball team and health and exercise science major Alyssa Groves is the exemplification of overcoming hardship in life to transition to something better. After tearing her MCL, ACL, and LCL in high school, Groves worked hard to return to the court but also derived a desire to help others with their health, leading her to CSU and the Department of Health and Exercise Science.
Where are you from and how did you choose CSU?
I am from Slayton, Minnesota, which is a really small town in southwest Minnesota. My recruiting process was very unique. Colleges started reaching out my freshman year of volleyball, but most of them stopped after I got hurt. CSU had reached out to me during my sophomore year of club volleyball, but I never really got in touch with them. Going into my senior year of high school, I found an interest in Colorado State again and reached back out to the coaches. I came out for a visit and fell in love with the campus and the environment of the volleyball team here at CSU. If you’ve ever been to a volleyball game, Moby Madness is real! I knew from there on out that I wanted to come to CSU.
How did you select health and exercise science as your major?
I always kind of knew that I wanted to do something in the health sciences field. This was made clear to me in my junior year of high school. I was a multisport athlete and one night while I was playing a basketball game, I came down from a rebound and landed wrong. Later to find out, I tore my MCL, ACL, and LCL. As heartbreaking as I thought this next LONG process was going to be, in a weird way getting hurt changed my whole attitude about everything. My athletic trainer who I spent nearly my whole rehab experience with literally changed my life and I will be forever grateful to him. If you do not know, junior year for high school athletes is the major recruiting year- but I was hurt so colleges that had already been reaching out kind of stopped. Without my trainer I really do not think that I would have achieved my dreams of playing D1 volleyball. He showed me what hard work and grit is. Ever since then, I knew I wanted to help people and make a difference in their life whether that is athletes, or younger/older adults.
What lessons from your major do you bring to the volleyball team training and match day?
As I explained in the question above, I have realized the importance of proper training and warm-up exercises along with proper nutrition so that my body stays healthy and reduces my likelihood of injuries.
What lessons from athletics do you bring to your major?
Lessons from athletics that I bring to my major is the experience as an athlete that allows me to have a very good understanding of what athletes need to perform and gives a unique perspective on my major that someone as a non-athlete might not get to experience. I also think that being in the gym and focusing on my sport alongside my studies has allowed me to be great at time management. Finding time and allowing myself to sit and study is very important to me.
What are your future plans after graduation?
My future plans after graduation are still up in the air. I came in thinking I wanted to pursue a career in physical therapy. As I continue on with school, I am starting to think possibly about becoming a physician assistant. So as of now I just know that I want to make a difference in people’s lives and wherever that takes me I’m excited for it!
The Department of Health and Exercise Science is a part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
