Alandry Below commits to SEMO Volleyball

Advance's Alandry Below was named the 2022 Volleyball Athlete of the Year at the 2022 Semoball Awards on Friday, July 8, 2022 at LaCroix Church in Cape Girardeau.

Semoball File

After two years in the Mineral Area College volleyball program, Advance alum Alandry Below announced her commitment to the Southeast Missouri State Volleyball program.

Below’s decision ultimately came down to proximity to home.

“There’s not much thought into it,” Below said. “I wanted to be close to home. I’m already an hour and a half away at MAC but I wanted to be closer.”

Because she will now be playing closer to home, Below will have more opportunities to see her family.

“That was one of my biggest things,” Below said. “I want to see my grandparents all the time and now my grandparents can come to all my games, which they couldn’t while I was here at MAC.”

On the same day Below had her official visit with the Redhawks, she decided to commit to the program.

“Growing up I always knew about SEMO Volleyball,” Below said. “I loved all the girls on the tour. They were all so nice and it was a community type of feel.”

When looking back on her time at Mineral Area, Below feels it was crucial to her development as a player.

“I think it was a great start for me,” Below said. “Because out of high school, there was no way I could have gone to SEMO. Junior college is a route I think a lot of kids should take. I think it helped prepare me.”

While she has two years of collegiate volleyball experience under her belt, Below isn’t resting on that alone heading into SEMO.

“I’m getting prepared and I have confidence, but it all comes down to hard work,” Below said. “It just comes down to who works harder and who wants it more.”

Perhaps the biggest difference between JUCO and D1 will be the speed of the game, but luckily for Below, she already has some experience.

“We scrimmaged them last spring and it wasn’t like a crazy difference,” Below said. “Teams in the JUCO nationals are insane, like 6-foot-5 all across the front row.”

With the 2024 campaign rapidly approaching, Below has begun to consider her goals and expectations for herself.

“One of my goals is just to really get close with the team and have a fun time,” Below said. “I do want to work hard and get some playing time no matter what.”