Sports
On Her Game: Providence Volleyball's Maloney Shines, Just Like Siblings
Alyssa Maloney stands tall in the middle of floor for the Providence volleyball team. Oh, and she also likes bottomless steak fries from Red Robin.
It's a safe bet that pickup volleyball games during summer barbecues and the annual family Thanksgiving football game are rather competitive when it comes to junior Alyssa Maloney and her family.
Maloney's older brothers, Mike (Delaware State) and Kevin (Marian University), have played college football, while Kevin also has competed on the track and field squad. Older sister Mindy, who also played volleyball for Providence coach Rachel Ellingson, is now a Greyhound at Loyola University Maryland.
Alyssa Maloney is a middle blocker for the Celtics and one of the key reasons why Providence has won eight of its first 10 volleyball matches.
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"Alyssa is a true competitor," Ellingson said. "She brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the game and to the team. Although very different from her sister Mindy, they both work very hard to improve their game and have the drive to win."
As a force in the middle of the court, Maloney expects to help keep the Celtics in all their matches this season.
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"We always know we can bounce back because we're really strong together," she said. "Being in a rut isn't really too bad for us because we know we can bounce back quickly and shake it off."
As a 6-footer, some might wonder why Maloney also isn’t a force on the basketball court during the winter. She used to play but gave up the sport to focus on volleyball full-time during her high school years.
