Name & Number: Aleisha Coates, #3
Position: Outside Hitter
Major & Year: Senior, Kinesiology
Hometown: Victorville, California
Aleisha Coates is this week’s Top Dog after her outstanding performance against San Diego State University. Coates totaled 13 kills, a season-high 14 digs and contributed 18.5 points in the team’s 3-1 win over the Aztecs.
JW: What do you plan on doing once you graduate?
AC: I want to be a physical education teacher when I graduate.
JW: What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you during a match at Fresno State?
AC: At Fresno State, the funniest thing that has happened to me — I think I was running after a ball and completely missed it and just straight up fell. Like I got tripped by a ghost.
JW: What’s the hardest part about volleyball for you?
AC: That’s a hard one. I think serving, to be honest, because it’s so mental and it’s the only part of the game you’re by yourself on. Everybody else, they use teamwork, so that’s why it’s hard for me.
JW: What do you think is the biggest misconception about volleyball or volleyball players?
AC: That we just like the spandex. Or just that we like rolling around on the floor for no reason.
JW: Do you have any superstitions or rituals that you do before games?
AC: Before every single game, I listen to “I Smile” by Kirk Franklin. I listen to Yolanda Adams’ “Fasho,” and I listen to “I Can, I Will, I Must,” the Dick’s Sporting Goods motivational speech, every game.
JW: What’s the best part about being a collegiate athlete?
AC: I think the best part is just knowing that you have the opportunity to do something that other people really wish they could do and don’t have the opportunity to do it.
JW: You transferred from New Mexico last year, what’s the best part about Fresno to you?
AC: I think the best part about Fresno is being close to home, getting to see my mom and dad, and I’ve had a lot of awesome opportunities here. I think one of the greatest things that I’ve been able to do is work with Coach Lauren [Netherby-Sewell]. She’s really helped as far as being an outside hitter, and then of course, FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes).
JW: What does it mean to you to be a Bulldog?
AC: It really means the grit, the passion, exactly what I came here for: to pull out that Bulldog tenacity and just play hard and have fun.
