Eastern Michigan Athletics
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EMU Volleyball's Alyssa LaFace Surprised with Scholarship
8/24/2017 10:09:00 AM | Volleyball
The scholarship will cover her tuition for the 2017-18 school year
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team surprised junior Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.) with an athletic scholarship Monday, Aug. 21. The surprise came before the start of practice, as Head Coach Kimi Olson had LaFace take over her pre-practice rituals.
"Before every practice she reads a short story about life and values," LaFace said. "We all stood in a line and she brought me up to read her story, and no one ever reads her stories. So I went up to read it and it read, 'Congratulations to teammate, Alyssa LaFace, for receiving a 2017-18 scholarship."
Only the coaching staff and a few others knew about the plan prior to the surprise. The announcement was followed by an emotional reaction from LaFace, her teammates, and the staff alike.
"I lost it," LaFace shared. "I was really emotional but truly just humbled and blessed to receive the scholarship. All the girls were emotional with me, they were super happy."
"She got part way through it and started crying," Olson added. "You could just see the excitement on their faces kind of burst out, whether it was cheering or tears, there was emotions throughout."
After stepping in and winning over the libero position in 2016, Olson thought of no one more deserving than her junior defensive specialist to receive the last scholarship available for the 2017 season.
"In her execution and quiet leadership she has influence on this team," Olson said. "And the first place you see it is in her work ethic...To actually be able to award someone who works their butt off with a scholarship is really rewarding."
LaFace and the team open their 2017 schedule at the Butler Tournament this weekend, Aug. 25-26. Their first match is Friday, Aug. 25, at 11:30 a.m. against Oakland University.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team surprised junior Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.) with an athletic scholarship Monday, Aug. 21. The surprise came before the start of practice, as Head Coach Kimi Olson had LaFace take over her pre-practice rituals.
"Before every practice she reads a short story about life and values," LaFace said. "We all stood in a line and she brought me up to read her story, and no one ever reads her stories. So I went up to read it and it read, 'Congratulations to teammate, Alyssa LaFace, for receiving a 2017-18 scholarship."
Only the coaching staff and a few others knew about the plan prior to the surprise. The announcement was followed by an emotional reaction from LaFace, her teammates, and the staff alike.
"I lost it," LaFace shared. "I was really emotional but truly just humbled and blessed to receive the scholarship. All the girls were emotional with me, they were super happy."
"She got part way through it and started crying," Olson added. "You could just see the excitement on their faces kind of burst out, whether it was cheering or tears, there was emotions throughout."
After stepping in and winning over the libero position in 2016, Olson thought of no one more deserving than her junior defensive specialist to receive the last scholarship available for the 2017 season.
"In her execution and quiet leadership she has influence on this team," Olson said. "And the first place you see it is in her work ethic...To actually be able to award someone who works their butt off with a scholarship is really rewarding."
LaFace and the team open their 2017 schedule at the Butler Tournament this weekend, Aug. 25-26. Their first match is Friday, Aug. 25, at 11:30 a.m. against Oakland University.
Players Mentioned
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