Aliyah Christensen signs to play college volleyball for Iowa Wesleyan
NEW LONDON — Aliyah Christensen had her future all mapped out, one that didn't include volleyball for the first time since she was in elementary school.
The New London High Schoo senior was going to go to Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo to run track and begin her studies to become a nurse.
Volleyball, it appeared, was a thing of the past.
Then Ashley Miller came calling. The Iowa Wesleyan University volleyball coach made Christensen an offer she couldn't refuse.
On Tuesday afternoon, Christensen made it official, signing a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at the Mount Pleasant school for the next four years.
For Christensen, it is the perfect fit at the perfect time.
"I'm super excited It's really great having this opportunity," Christensen said. "I didn't think I was even going to play volleyball in college. I was going to go to Hawkeye and not play volleyball. I was going to run track. I am happy with my decision to go to Iowa Wesleyan. I will be living on campus, but I can still go home when I want to."
Christensen is coming off a season in which she split time between setter and right-side hitter after spending her first two seasons as setter. For her career, Christensen averaged 6.1 assists and 3.3 digs per set and had 122 service aces.
Christensen played her first two seasons for coach Maureen Heath, then played for head coach Lindsey Johnson this past season. Christensen said the solid fundamentals she learned at New London will make the transition to the NAIA level easier.
"My coaches taught me how to have a strong mindset and to never give up," Christensen said. "Coach Johnson taught me to never get down on myself. She knew what I could do and she gave me confidence in myself and my abilities."
Christensen will join an Iowa Wesleyan team which went 1-25 in its first season under Miller. The Tigers are a young team with no seniors on the team, so Christensen hopes to be able to grow along with the team.
Former New London libero Kyra Linkin was a freshman defensive specialist for Iowa Wesleyan last season and Christensen is looking forward to being reunited next fall.
"That will be really nice," Christensen said. "I will be able to play with some different people, too, so hopefully I will be able to set for them."
In the meantime, Christensen said she plans to spend her spare time in the gym getting ready, then plans to run track this spring.
"I am going to the gym playing with friends," Christensen said. "We start open gym at Iowa Wesleyan in January. I am really looking forward to getting over there and getting started."
This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: New London high school setter to play volleyball at Iowa Wesleyan
