Allison Aldrich
Allison Aldrich was already a three-sport athlete (volleyball, basketball and soccer) for Schuyler Central High School before being introduced to sitting volleyball. A February 2004 feature about her in the Omaha World Herald caught the attention of Brent Rasmussen, captain of the U.S. Men's Sitting Volleyball Team, and he put Aldrich in contact with Mike Hulett, U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Team head coach.
Aldrich soon joined the national team and was on the medal stand in Athens that September, where she proved to be the top setter in the world. After receiving a bronze medal with her teammates in Athens, Aldrich set her sights on improving in Beijing. At the 2008 Paralympic Games, Aldrich led Team USA to an emotional five-set victory in the semifinals over the Netherlands. Although not able to overcome China in the finals, the U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Team came away with a surprising silver medal.
Now attending Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU), Aldrich is still active in several intramural sports and is a member of the NWU Women's Golf Team. In the classroom, she's pursuing a double-major in health/fitness studies and health/K-12 physical education with a minor in coaching. When she completes her coursework, Aldrich says she'd like to become a strength and conditioning coach.
Aldrich is also a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority and enjoys playing basketball, working out, watching movies and playing with her dog, Olympus. At the age of seven, Aldrich lost her right leg to bone cancer.
Major Achievements:
- 2009: Gold medal at the Euro Cup, Voted Best Server-- Roermond, Netherlands
- 2008: Silver medal, U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Team - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
- 2008: Bronze medal, World Organization Volleyball for Disabled International Cup - Ismailia, Egypt
- 2007: Silver medal, Sitting Volleyball Invitational - Shanghai, China
- 2006: Fifth place, Sitting Volleyball World Championships - Roermond, The Netherlands
- 2004: Bronze medal, Paralympic Games - Athens, Greece
