Alisha Glass

Alisha Glass
Name	Alisha Glass
Birth date	21 June 1988
Birth place	Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
Height	1.88 m
College	Penn State University
Position	Setter

Alisha Glass (born June 21, 1988) is an American former professional indoor volleyball player and current coach known for her role as a setter. She played collegiately at Penn State University, won multiple national titles, competed professionally in Italy, Turkey, and Russia, and represented the United States women's national volleyball team at major international tournaments including the Olympic Games and the FIVB Volleyball World Championship. Glass transitioned to coaching and sports commentary following retirement from elite play.

Early life and education

Glass was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and grew up in a family involved in athletics and education. She attended high school in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where she excelled in volleyball and track, attracting attention from collegiate programs including Penn State University, Stanford University, University of Florida, University of Texas at Austin, and University of California, Los Angeles. Her secondary education emphasized athletic development under coaches who had connections with programs such as USA Volleyball and regional clubs affiliated with the American Amateur Volleyball Association. She enrolled at Penn State University to study kinesiology and to compete under head coach Russ Rose.

Collegiate career

At Penn State University Glass became a starting setter for the Penn State Nittany Lions women's volleyball team, earning accolades in the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship seasons. She helped the program secure consecutive national championships, competing in Final Four matches against powerhouses such as University of Southern California, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Minnesota. During her tenure she garnered individual awards from organizations like the American Volleyball Coaches Association and the Big Ten Conference including All-American honors and conference setter of the year distinctions. Her collegiate performances put her among alumni who progressed to professional ranks alongside former Penn State players like Christa Harmotto, Tori Dixon, Nicole Fawcett, and Sarah Pavan.

Professional career

Following graduation Glass signed with professional clubs in top international leagues. She played in the Italian Women's Volleyball League for teams competing in the CEV Champions League and domestic cup competitions, joining squads that faced rivals such as Foppapedretti Bergamo, Pallavolo Sirio Perugia, and Imoco Volley Conegliano. Her career included contracts in the Turkish Women's Volleyball League where she contested matches versus clubs like Eczacıbaşı VitrA, VakıfBank SK, and Galatasaray S.K.. She later played in the Russian Super League with opponents including Dinamo Kazan and WVC Dynamo Moscow. Across professional seasons she participated in continental tournaments organized by the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball and domestic cup finals, contributing to club successes in league play, cup competitions, and European knockout stages.

International career

Glass earned selection to the United States women's national volleyball team and represented USA Volleyball at events organized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball including the FIVB World Grand Prix, FIVB Volleyball World Championship, and the FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League. She was part of the US roster at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, contesting Olympic pool matches and knockout-stage fixtures against national teams such as Brazil women's national volleyball team, China women's national volleyball team, Serbia women's national volleyball team, and Russia women's national volleyball team. Her international tenure included medals from Pan American competitions and NORCECA tournaments where she faced teams from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Playing style and achievements

As a setter, Glass was noted for court vision, tempo control, and tactical serving strategies used to disrupt oppositions like Italy women's national volleyball team and Japan women's national volleyball team. Her technical profile combined quick decision-making, jump-setting ability, and defensive contributions in serve-receive and digging roles similar to decorated setters such as Logan Tom and Misty May-Treanor in terms of influence on match flow. Individually she received accolades including All-American selections, conference awards in the Big Ten Conference, and professional league honors in Italy and Turkey. Her trophy cabinet includes NCAA championships, domestic cup finals appearances, and medals from international tournaments governed by the FIVB and regional confederations.

Personal life and post-retirement activities

After retiring from professional play Glass moved into coaching, mentoring athletes at collegiate programs and club academies connected with institutions like Penn State University, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Texas at Austin, and national training centers affiliated with USA Volleyball. She has appeared as an analyst for volleyball broadcasts covering competitions like the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship, FIVB Volleyball World Championship, and the Olympic Games. Glass engages in advocacy and youth development initiatives with sports foundations and community organizations in Pennsylvania and national programs tied to the AAU and regional volleyball clubs. She resides in the United States and remains active in coaching, speaking engagements, and volleyball development projects.

Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:American women's volleyball players