Ettrick, Va. (May 14, 2024)- For the third time in four years under Amanda Walker the Virginia State Volleyball team had a student graduate as valedictorian. Alexis McNair graduated as a 4.0 student this spring to be the latest volleyball player to earn this distinction. 

When asked how she handled not only being a captain on the volleyball team, but also the SAAC president on her way to being valedictorian McNair said; "My support system was always there for me whenever I was too stressed and putting God in the front of my life and knowing that he has me the whole way helped me get through those rough patches." She also said she had to work on her time management, making sure she got good grades to play sports, making sure she is eligible.  

McNair never thought about being valedictorian when coming into college." When I first got here it was never on my radar about graduating top of the class, but after my sophomore year when Kayla Taylor was valedictorian I thought I can do this as well." "At the start of my junior year that is when I really tried to get straight A's in all my Mass Communication classes." 

 Walker said that it is important to her when recruiting to find students who not only succeed on the court but in the classroom. "When I go recruiting, I want to see students who are in good academic standings, with high gpa's, who are self-sufficient and accountable. The transition to college from high school is tough in that first semester so we look for girls who can balance athletics with academics." "With this being our third valedictorian, I feel like we are doing everything correct in recruiting and teaching girls what it means to be a student athlete."  

McNair said that having  Walker as her coach was a huge asset. "Having a coach that sees you past the athlete helped tremendously. If coach didn't allow us to be students first, putting our academics at the top of our priorities, it wouldn't have been possible. Coach has always said we are students before we are athletes, and plus the study halls lol." 

Advice she wanted to give to all those Freshmen and Sophomore student-athletes who want to be valedictorian was "Communicate with your teachers. Being a student-athlete means that there will be days when you won't be in class. Make sure that you build a relationship with these professors because they will be willing to help you. Also take advantage of all extra work and extra credit opportunities, they will help in the long run." "Never get down on yourself you are in this position because you deserve it. You worked so hard to become a college athlete which only a small portion can say so don't squander the opportunity." 

McNair is planning on staying at VSU to obtain her master's in business administration while being a Graduate Assistant on the volleyball team. After obtaining her master's she wants to continue her work in sports, owning her own Sports Marketing Agency for underrepresented athletes.