Alizae Middleton

I grew up in Utah, with the exception of a few years spent living in Las Vegas. Volleyball has always been a part of my life. I grew up playing with my family and was surrounded by the sport—my aunt is currently a coach, three of my aunts were multiple-time state champions, and my uncle has played professional volleyball in both Mexico and Canada.

Although I played a variety of sports growing up, including soccer, I didn’t truly fall in love with volleyball until I was 14 when I joined my first club team at Vortex while also playing for my high school team. Shortly after, my family moved to Las Vegas, where I continued playing club volleyball and discovered a passion for coaching.

I began as an assistant coach for two club teams before becoming a head coach the following season while continuing to assist other teams. During the offseason, I led clinics and camps for athletes ages 12–16, coached private and small-group lessons for players ages 7–16, and regularly stepped in to help with practices and tournaments for both boys’ and girls’ teams. Those experiences showed me that coaching was more than something I enjoyed—it was something I truly loved.

After moving back to Utah, I took a year to focus on school before returning to Vortex as a coach. It’s incredibly meaningful to be coaching at the same club where my own volleyball journey began.

My favorite quote is, “I didn’t know who I was until I stopped being who I wasn’t.” To me, this means having the confidence to be authentic, both on and off the court. I want my athletes to grow not only as volleyball players, but also as teammates and individuals who show respect, embrace constructive feedback, display great sportsmanship, and bring a positive attitude to everything they do.