Penn State Greater Alleghany volleyball star breaks coaches’ records

By AJ SISSON

This story is the first in a series of features submitted by Penn State University Park students taking a sports journalism course.

As a young soccer player, Alix Ellis never wanted to go to practice or to matches. But Amibeth Ellis, her mom, would not let her quit, saying she never had to play soccer again, but she couldn't quit.

That mentality stuck and paved the path for her success on the Penn State Greater Allegheny women's volleyball team.

Now a senior in her Covid eligibility year, the Derry, Pennsylvania, native is determined to build on her achievements. The PSU Greater Allegheny women's volleyball team that won a title last year is reloaded with five new recruits that, "since day one, everything clicked," Ellis said.

"I just always have that feeling in me like I want to perform as best as possible and I want my team to be able to achieve these things. My family and their support really makes me want to play well," Ellis said. Her parents, Amibeth and Shawn, make it to every game and Ellis attributes her success to their continued support.

It wasn't always Ellis's dream to be a college volleyball player. The Derry High School volleyball coach approached Ellis in her sophomore year about if she had any thoughts about playing in college. Ellis's only word was, "Yeah?"

Ellis developed her skills as an outside hitter after that conversation. "The hard work I put in and the outcome that could come from it made me want to continue with it," Ellis said. The hard work sparked a tight relationship when coach Alyssa Finocchi recruited her to play at PSU GA.

In 2019, Ellis set the school record for most single-season kills, beating Finocchi's previous record of 330 in a season. Earlier this season, Ellis continued building her legacy, becoming the PSU GA all-time kills leader.

Finocchi struck gold with her first recruiting class, recruiting Ellis and best friend, Sueriah Timsah, along with seven other players. The two stars have combined for 1,743 kills in their five eligible years at PSU GA, and counting. The girls on the team admire their coach and view her as both a role model and a coach.

"She's like an older sister, someone I look up to and someone I want to make proud," Ellis said. The coach and player combo both shared the number 7 on the court, so it's only fitting the newer version of the jersey took over the old version's records.

In the 2022 season, the PSU GA women's volleyball team currently sits at 16-7 overall, and 2nd in the PSUAC Western Conference behind Penn State Mont Alto. The Greater Allegheny Lions have only lost two conference games, both to Mont Alto. However, this does not discourage Ellis and her teammates.

"Every team is going to bring their A-game when they play us," Ellis said. "Learning from our performances in past years is something that will be key once we return to Virginia Beach." After playing against nationally ranked teams this season, the PSU GA team knows they'll be able succeed in Nationals this year.

As Ellis inches closer to the end of her college career, it's bittersweet for the senior outside hitter to know that it's coming to an end so soon. "I know when we leave," she said, "we'll be proud of the impact we made on the program, and what we were able to accomplish."