Getting to know: Six Pack’s Alayna Yates
The Tourney season is starting to heat up! Let’s us help you get to know some of the Iowa Prep volleyball players this season. Next up is Cedar Fall’s Alayna Yates. Alayna had 294 kills and 125 blocks for the…
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Continue ReadingThe Tourney season is starting to heat up! Let’s us help you get to know some of the Iowa Prep volleyball players this season. Next up is Cedar Fall’s Alayna Yates. Alayna had 294 kills and 125 blocks for the 2nd ranked Tigers. Yates was a 1st Team All-District, 1st Team All-Conference, and 2nd Team All-State player. She is excited to have a great club season this year and make another run for a state championship her senior season before heading off to play at the University of Dayton. Alayna is playing with Six Pack Volleyball Club this season.
Q) Who or what would you most contribute your volleyball success to?
A) “A lot of it has to do with my family. My mom was the one that got me into volleyball my 7th grade year, just trying it out in junior high, but it wasn’t until club that I started to love the sport. I honestly have the most supportive family and fan club out there. My parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and family friends attend a lot of my games both high school and club and seeing their faces there to cheer me on just makes me play harder for them! Also, I couldn’t have gotten anywhere without Six Pack VBC. I was not the most ideal player when I first started. I had zero volleyball IQ and no athletic ability. The coaches who saw my potential and worked with me tirelessly are who I have to thank for all of this. It took A LOT of time and I’m still working really hard, but I finally have become the volleyball player that 13 year old me would have never imagined becoming.”
Q) What is your most favorite thing about the club volleyball season?
A) “I love my club teammates and hanging out with them both on and off the court. Spending time with them is always so much fun! I love working hard with them and competing along side them. Qualifiers are always a blast because not only do we get to play some serious high level volleyball, but we get to hang out in hotel rooms, chatting and laughing.”
Q) Favorite way to waste time and why?
A) “I love listening to music and watching movies. I’ve always been a movie geek, I’m the kinda person who can’t see a movie in theaters without eating popcorn, like it’s a rule for me. With volleyball and school my schedule is pretty hectic but when I get time to relax I love listening to music and tuning out the world or watching movies and re-runs of The Office.”
Q) Best team bonding tradition you’ve experienced?
A) “I remember my 14’s year of club we were at a qualifier and our coach made us play Heads Up! as a team bonding activity because we had such a long break between games. We all laughed so hard while playing that game and just had such a good time. I would say we play a lot of games as a team, we played a lot of Uno last year for sure. I guess another tradition would be every time we go to Rochester for a tournament, we always eat at this one restaurant called Wild Bills. It’s a sports bar and grill and we LOVE the food there.”
Q) Favorite club tournament and/or city and why?
A) “I would say my favorite is the Northern Lights Qualifier because it’s usually one of our last qualifiers so it’s cool to see our growth over the season at this tournament. Another big reason why I love this tournament is because they always sell these long Mizuno yoga pants that are like the best thing EVER for my long legs… so comfortable! Lastly, my team and I love going to the Mall of America every time we go to that tournament. This year we have plans to look for prom dresses there as a team and I’m so excited!”