FALL ATHLETES Alyssa Householder

For Canfield senior Alyssa Householder, volleyball is a family affair. The Volleyball Coaches District 1 Player of the Year and All-American Conference Red Tier first teamer started playing “organized volleyball” in seventh grade.

“But my Mom has played volleyball her life and I played with her [first] in the backyard,” Householder said.

Her mother, Maria, is a Canfield graduate who played at Youngstown State University. She’s been Canfield’s varsity coach for six seasons.

Before settling on volleyball as her main sport, Householder played softball, soccer and basketball. She gave them up by the time she reached high school to allow her to play travel volleyball.

“The basketball season [conflicts] with travel volleyball and soccer is played at the same time as [high school] volleyball,” Householder said. “Volleyball has always been my number one. When I knew I had to choose [one sport], it was the easiest choice I had to make.”

Next fall, Householder will continue her athletic career at Tiffin University where she has chosen a criminal justice major focusing on homeland security.

“I’ve always been interested in criminal justice,” she said. “My Mom majored in criminal justice — it’s something I’ve always been pulled towards. “I feel like that’s something I could really excel at.”

Her favorite subject is math.

“Because as painful as it is, once you figure it out, the satisfaction of solving a really complicated math problem is the best feeling to me,” she said. “All my friends are in the advanced math class with me and we have so much fun. It’s just something I’ve always enjoyed.”

Her favorite teacher is Mrs. Erin Angelo, who coached her in volleyball in seventh grade.

“I had her for anatomy and physiology in my sophomore year,” she said. “She taught me volleyball and she would always check in with how I am doing at games. She comes to our games, she supports.

“She’s really involved and she really cares.”

— Tom Williams, The Vindicator