by Ashton Eley.

Why play in a non-school sponsored league? Whether it is to get extra practice, to have a better chance to play or to catch the eye of college scouts, many students play their sport year round.

Volleyball player junior Alyssa Anderson isn’t only one of the school’s best offensive players with 13 kills with 19 good attacks in 22 attempts the last game against North Little Rock this season, she also players at UALR in the Little Rock Junior volleyball league.

“It’s sort of like AAU basketball,” Anderson said. “I go to tournaments out of town. It is a great chance to get looked at [by colleges]. We have a big one coming up in Orlando.”

Anderson has competed in the league for the past four years.

“I tried out for volleyball in eighth grade, but I broke my leg,” Anderson said. “My parents found out about the Little Rock Juniors and signed me up after I healed.”

She practices three days a week and plays year round, except during school season. Anderson said she tried many different sports, but this is definitely what she loves to play.

“I’m competitive and I enjoy it,” she said. “I’ve tried a bunch of different sports, soccer, basketball and others, but volleyball is my favorite.”