Name: Alexis Monson
School: Filer
Grade: Junior
Sport: Volleyball
Position: Setter and middle blocker

How did you first get interested in your sport?

Every since I was young I’ve been very into sports. I’d grown up in a family that had all played, so really it was a given for me to play. I love everything about it and would never miss the chance to play. 

If you play other sports, which is your favorite and why?

I do play other sports such as basketball and softball. I love both but basketball and volleyball are definitely more of my go-to sports. There’s so many different positions and techniques I learn, so I never get tired of it. There’s always a rush in the game so it keeps me on my toes. Not only am I getting to play the sport I love, but i'm getting the chance to be with a group of awesome friends I get to call my team. Another thing would be how it brings everyone in our community together. 

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from high school sports?

The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is to never take things for granted. You never know what’s going to happen or when so enjoy everything while you still can. 

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? 

The best advice I’ve ever received was from my mom and I’ve heard it ever since I was a little girl which was that I can always do better. I’m never good enough on the court and there’s always room for improvement. 

What has been your favorite high school memory so far?

My favorite high school memory has got to be winning state championships in volleyball in 2018. It was my freshman year and had always been something I dreamed of so once it really happened I was so excited. The crowd was huge and went wild. My team was jumping up and down which truly was an amazing thing to experience.

What coaches or teachers have made the biggest impact on your athletic career? 

Some coaches that have impacted my life would definitely be my volleyball coach, Tanya Beard, my basketball coach Michael Amaya, and my traveling basketball coach, Lauren. They had taught me more than I could’ve imagined. They always were teaching me new things on and off the court. My coaches would always give me feedback, good or bad. They believed in me which made me work harder, so I wouldn’t let them down. Another important thing was they always made it a blast. They’d always have the best motivation, which is truly so powerful. 

Which teammates have you really connected with during high school?

Through high school, I’ve played with many athletes. One I won’t ever forget would be Jaylee Bingham. I was a freshman and she was a senior on the varsity volleyball and she definitely gave it to us hard, but it was just what we needed. She wasn’t shy to let us know what we were doing wrong when really half the time we never even realized. She brought a positive attitude to our team which was very inspiring and she got our team so close we loved spending time with each other. Another player I’ve played a lot would be Ella Fischer. We’ve played volleyball and basketball together every year since I’ve been in high school and one thing I believe we really connected on together with was how much love we have for the game. 

Is there anyone in your family who have helped you get to where you are today?

My mom and dad are definitely the reason I am where I am today. They believed in me from the start and never failed to make me better. Even if it’s them taking me to a gym to work on my skills or sending me off to camps, they were always there helping me and encouraging me to do my best, not only at sports but at school as well. 

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Something a lot of people don’t know about me is that I’m adopted. Steve Monson, my adopted father, is actually my biological mom's boyfriend. They’ve been together for the past 13 years. Since he’s always been the father figure in my life, we decided to have him adopt me and he become my real dad for good, which really was one of the best things that could’ve ever happened to me. 

What are you most looking forward to this season?

I’m definitely looking forward to see how far my team can go in the season. I’m beyond excited to see how much improvement we will have and how much closer as a team we can be. Right now, I’d have to be most excited for districts to see where we stand as a whole.