Steadiness is the word Alison Tam hopes people take away from watching her compete at Summer NIT. The Sunshine libero is looking forward to bringing consistency, positivity, and a calm presence to one of the biggest stages of the summer. While the level of competition will be high, Alison wants people to notice her ability to stay present in difficult moments and the way her team continues to support one another regardless of the score.

For Alison, Summer NIT represents another opportunity to improve. She views competing against some of the best teams in the country as a chance to measure her growth and continue developing her game. Away from volleyball, she enjoys journalism and literature and values academics just as much as athletics. Looking ahead, she hopes to find a college program with strong academics and a culture that challenges athletes to become their best both on and off the court. Her approach to competition is simple: play with gratitude, stay in the moment, and enjoy the opportunity to compete.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Alison Tam’s growth this season seems closely tied to confidence.

Serve receive has become one of the most dependable parts of her game, but the improvement goes deeper than mechanics. Learning to stay relaxed, trust her abilities, and focus on simple solutions has helped create greater consistency while allowing her to compete more freely.

Her reflection on the camp’s closing 6v6 competition captured that growth perfectly. Standing behind the service line with everyone watching, she chose not to focus on the pressure. Instead, she trusted herself, delivered an ace, and watched her team celebrate together. For Alison, it became more than a successful serve. It became a moment of belief.

That theme continued throughout her day. Competing against top athletes reinforced that she belongs at that level. The experience helped her understand that confidence is often the difference between holding back and performing at your best.

Leadership is another area she continues to embrace. Whether it is helping blockers identify offensive tendencies or serving as a calming presence during pressure moments, Alison wants to impact matches beyond her own touches.

As she prepares for high school volleyball and future UA Next opportunities, she is focused on expanding her range in serve receive and defense while continuing to develop as both a leader and teammate.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Alison is expanding her range and sharpening court coverage in both serve receive and defense. She’s practiced two-person passing patterns and a “show-and-take” look with the outside. At the showcase, she impressed by taking the first ball outside her lane to free hitters for their routes. Her focus is on leading with clear communication, steady resets, and consistency under pressure. “I want coaches to remember my ability to read the game at a high level, along with my speed and ball control.”

Fun fact: She makes pancakes from scratch for her family every Saturday morning.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247