A change in scenery and position has provided former Angelo State volleyball player Alex Allard an opportunity to turn a sport that she loves into a career.

                Allard, who played at Angelo State from 2008-2009, is a member of the Mayaguez Indias professional team in Puerto Rico and has played defender and outside hitter in her first season.  

                The first change for Allard was to move from the scenery of the United States to the island scenery of Puerto Rico. Teams in the Puerto Rico Superliga are only allowed three reinforcements or non-native Puerto Rico players. Allard was able to avoid being tagged a “reinforcement” because her mother is from Puerto Rico.

                Various players from the U.S., such as Blair Brown, have played for Mayaguez Indias. Brown was a member of the four-time NCAA Division I volleyball champions with Penn State from 2007-2010. She was also a three-time All-Big Ten first teamer and was nominated for the 2011 ESPY Award for Best Female College Athlete and was the 2011 Honda Award winner for volleyball.

                “Numerous Division I players from the United States come play,” Allard said. “It is an honor to be able to play with someone like Blair Brown and other well-known athletes.”

                The second change was from a position she had known since she started playing volleyball. Throughout club, high school and collegiate volleyball, Allard was a setter running the offense. Now her mindset has changed to reacting to opposing outside hitters as she's now the team's defensive specialist.

                “It has been the hardest transition for me,” Allard said of her position change. “I was a setter at Angelo State and throughout my high school and junior college days but I'm truly enjoying my time in my new role. “

“Alex is a very talented player,” Angelo State head volleyball coach Chuck Waddington said. “In her redshirt year here, we used her in just about every position to help us prepare for whatever team we were facing.  I think her versatility is one of her greatest strengths.  I really think that she will excel in making the transition from setting to defensive specialist and push hard to make an impact on her team.”

                The adjustment period started almost immediately as the pace of the game is a faster tempo than what is played in the US. Another transition Allard has to cope with was the language barrier, as nearly all the players speak Spanish during practices and games.

                “Every practice is in Spanish and since the majority of the players are Puerto Rican, we speak Spanish on the court as well,” she said. “It was one of the first things I had to learn. I have had to read defenses quicker and react faster than I did before but I am learning more with every practice.”

                Her playing days and lessons learned while at Angelo State has stayed with her even being miles away from San Angelo.

                “I acquired a great work ethic,” Allard said of her time at ASU, “I can remember coach (Chuck) Waddington pushing our team in drills and never letting us give up. I try to apply that same feeling here throughout practice and training.”

                The experience and the ability to play volleyball have been an honor and an exciting experience for the former Belle.

                “The thing I enjoy most about playing professionally is the fact I can dedicate all of my time and energy to the sport I love,” she said. “The playing of the games is just the icing on a cake when I think of spending six months on an island playing a sport I love.”