A Volleyball Journey
- knight413
- Apr 18, 2019
- 18 min read
Updated: Feb 15
From the dusty fields of the baseball diamond, the beaches of SoCal, the hardwood at Pacifica Christian High school, the legendary mystique of UCLA's Pauley Pavillon, the awe of the Olympic Training Center, the championship courts in Costa Rica and Tunisia, back to back NCAA Championships, the men's national team gym, to professional volleyball in the German Bundesliga, Alex Knight has been on the journey of a lifetime.
“ It's never been about volleyball, baseball or soccer or the sport itself. It's never been about winning, college, or accomplishment. Through all the practices, competitions, 5:00 am alarms, travel, hotels, weight training, film sessions, injuries, successes, failures, and team dinners its about using your gifts for God's glory, the good of others, and for your own joy. It's building a life of meaning and purpose.”
Day After Day After Day - The Story Of A High School Athlete
Growing up playing soccer, baseball, and basketball is not uncommon for boys in Southern California. In middle school, Alex Knight was firmly planted in the travel/club circuit. Growing up with a ball in his hands, his love for sports, friends, and competition was a natural fit. Being tall and having the ability to move afforded him many opportunities. Teams and coaches from multiple sports were always calling. Alex focused on baseball, and in the summer of 2013, his Santa Monica Pony team had a golden summer. They went 26-2, winning the district, regional, super-regional, and zonal championships. This put them in the Pony World Series with the likes of Taiwan, Mexico, Florida, and others. Alex was fortunate enough to start, pitch six innings and record the victory in the United States title game against Florida. 2013 United States 12 U Champs! With a bright future ahead of him and 4 years of year-round baseball under his belt, Alex decided to take a break. In the summer of 2014, he put away his cleats and headed to the golf course and beach. It was a refreshing break that led him in an unexpected direction.
On the beach, he met Miles Partain (future teammate, Bruin, and Olympian), also 14, from Pacific Palisades. Miles invited Alex to play in a CBVA beach tournament at Dockweiler Beach. The pair won the tournament, Alex’s first. Alex had no idea that Miles was the country's most accomplished beach player in his age group. Miles would go on with his brother Marcus to represent the USA in the U21 World Beach Championships in China. In July 2017, the two would become the youngest pair, 15 and 17, in history to qualify for an AVP tournament in Hermosa Beach. Miles would become one of the top beach defenders in the world, competing in the 2024 Olympics in Paris. After that initial victory at Dockweiler, Miles invited Alex to try out for a brand new indoor club team his father was founding out of the Palisades, Pac6. Alex had a decision to make. A 7-month commitment to indoor volleyball would compete with his baseball plans and his desire to play basketball at Pacifica Christian High School. During his freshman year, he was able to hold it all together by playing all three sports. Alex decided to give volleyball a try.
Pac6 had 12 players at tryouts. All 12 players made the team, and Pac6 was founded. It was the right 12 players as the team received a bid to Junior Nationals and shot up the ranks. Alex started as a middle blocker and was moved to outside hitter in the middle of the season. His 6’4” height as a freshman didn’t hurt. In Dallas, Junior Nationals, at the end of his freshman year, college coaches began to take note. The recruiting process began to take shape.
With club came a smattering of beach tournaments with a few victories. Alex played up and down the coast, meeting friends and enjoying both the beach and indoor culture. With the fall of 2016 came year 2 of indoor club tryouts with Pac6. This time, over 80 players showed up for tryouts. The club went from 12 kids at tryouts and 1 team the previous year to 4 teams and 80 players at tryouts in year two. Alex’s name was on the radar as he received invitations to try out with established clubs like SCVC (Southern California Volleyball Club) and Manhattan Beach Surf. After going to several tryouts, he decided to spend year two with Pac6. The team flourished, winning silver at the Holiday Classic, the SCVA Invitational, and the Junior Classic, squaring off twice with powerhouse Balboa Bay and once with Milwaukee Volleyball Club. The team finished the year ranked 2nd in SCVA 16s and 6th nationally.
In the middle of his sophomore year, the boys’ indoor coach at Pacifica became interested and recruited Alex to play for the high school team. Problem. Baseball and volleyball compete during the same season, spring. With the blessing of Pacifica’s athletic director, Alex played both baseball (centerfield/pitcher) and volleyball. He navigated homework, practices, and sometimes two games a day. It was intense. With baseball and volleyball combined, Alex played in over 55 contests in a 2 /12 month period. The baseball team earned a spot in the CIF playoffs, and the volleyball team flourished. Starting five sophomores and one freshman, the team went 19-6-2. The volleyball team advanced four rounds in the CIF playoffs, beating several senior-led teams before losing a five-set thriller to Riverside Poly in the quarterfinals. Alex was the only sophomore selected to be on the All CIF Southern Section team.
His sophomore year had a few more twists and turns. Alex was invited to play with the top 50 players in the country in his age group at the USA Holiday Camp in San Diego held over Christmas. The holiday camp sealed the deal. With top coaching and the best players in the country, Alex was at home. That week, he was selected to be a starting outside on the top USA team. The coaches at the camp began to actively reach out, and Alex began to start visits at numerous colleges. His place with USA volleyball was solidified.
In the summer of 2017, Alex was selected to train with the USA Volleyball indoor program for 10 days in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The program is a pipeline to the United States Olympic team. Again, the top 50 players in the country, age U16, gathered to train and then compete in the High-Performance Championships. Alex was selected as an outside hitter on the top A1 USA U16 team. He joined players from So Cal, Florida, North Carolina, and New York. The team was placed in the U18 bracket for the championships and acquitted themselves very well. Their record was 6-2 against boys one and two years older. Their losses came against the eventual champions from Canada and the U19 USA Youth National team.
Landing at LAX from Florida, Alex headed straight for Hermosa Beach. He was also selected to be on USA Volleyball’s Beach National Team, the top 10 beach players in the country. The team would train together for 5 days and then compete in USA Volleyball’s USA Junior Championships in Hermosa. The tournament would include the 10 players from the beach national team, zonal champions from Florida, Texas, Iowa, and New York, and teams from Canada, Czech Republic, and Puerto Rico. After 5 days of training, Alex was paired up with a friend and occasional beach partner, Miles Partain. The two would be the top USA team in the championships. In fact, they were seeded #1 in the tournament. The duo went 7-0, winning the tournament. They defeated Puerto Rico in the semi-finals and the Czech Republic in the finals.
Alex was one of two players selected that summer to play at the highest level with both USA Indoor and USA beach. Both experiences have helped shape him as a player both on and off the court. Representing the USA in international competition is not just about athletic performance but about character, camaraderie, work ethic, coachability, and pride.
Alex’s sophomore year was filled with collegiate recruiting. His list included 11 schools – UCLA, Pepperdine, Princeton, Harvard, USC, UC Santa Barbara, Long Beach State, Ohio State, BYU, UC San Diego, and Lewis. He visited campuses, met with coaches, took tours, watched practices, met players, developed relationships, and pondered his future. His final decision between UCLA and Pepperdine was made in the summer of 2017. Alex loved both schools, both coaching staffs, and both teams.
It was Monday, August 15, 2017. Alex Ubered up to UCLA and met with coach John Hawks. John conferenced in head coach John Speraw, who was with the national team in Chicago, and coach Brad Keller, who was with the U19 Youth National in Baharain. After a conversation on the phone, Alex became a Bruin.
In the fall of 2017, Alex entered his junior year, knowing his collegiate future. Pac6 had an outstanding year. They won the Boys’ Holiday Classic, beating Balboa Bay, SCVC, 949, and Legacy along the way to victory. They placed second in the 2018 SCVA Junior Invitational and earned their bid to Junior Nationals in Phoenix. Alex also spent his second Christmas break with his USA friends at the Youth Holiday Camp in San Diego.
On the first day of the Junior Invitational Alex was on a bic route and as he came down he landed on one of his own players tearing two of the three ligaments in his ankle. He spent the rest of the tournament in a wheelchair and on crutches. Alex would be out of all sports for three months. It was a time filled with doctors' appointments and physical therapy. Alex missed the first two months of his high school volleyball season, and with the injury, he turned in his cleats, closing the chapter on his long baseball journey. It was a time of reflection and focus that helped propel him into the next step of his journey.
He eased back into high volleyball, and for a month, the 6’6” outside hitter played libero, and the 5’8” libero played outside. Unfortunately, he could not physically try out for the High-Performance Championships and the Youth National Training Team. Instead, he submitted a video tryout.
In April of 2018, Alex logged into his USA account and got the good news that he had made the U19 Youth National Training Team under the leadership of Coach Brad Keller. This meant finishing his junior year of high school early and heading to Colorado Springs for ten days of tryouts and training at the Olympic Training Center.
Alex was fully healed from his injury. However, he hadn’t played his normal position or trained at a high level in 5 months. He headed off to compete for a spot on the US U19 Youth National Team. It was an honor to train with 22 of the best players, best coaches, and at the best facilities in the country under the banner of the USA. On day eight, the team was trimmed down from 22 to 12 players. Each player was individually called into the coaching office and given the news. They would either head back home or board a plane for San Jose, Costa Rica, to represent the United States at the U19 NORCECA Championships, a qualifier for the U19 World Championships. Alex was headed to Costa Rica! He moved from the U19 Youth National Training Team to the U19 Youth National Team.
In Costa Rica, Team USA won the silver medal and qualified for the 2019 World Championships to be held in Tunisia, Africa. The team defeated Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Puerto Rico before falling to Cuba in the Gold Medal Match. Alex started for Team USA and was the leading scorer for his team and the 4th overall point scorer in the tournament.
Back from Costa Rica and in Los Angeles, Alex rejoined Pac6 and headed to Phoenix for the 2018 U17 National Championships. Pac6 went 10-1 and won the Bronze medal. Along the way they beat some of the nation's best teams including, SCVC, Balboa Bay, Coast, Adversity, OCVC, NCVC, and MVC. Alex was named to the U17 All-Tournament Team. He was fortunate to have been coached by J.T. Hatch - OH for UCLA at the time. J.T. helped Alex make the jump from the club to the college game.
After a few days off, Alex joined his teammates, some from the Youth National Team, in Anaheim in mid-July to begin training with the SCVA Youth Team that would compete in the High-Performance Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Under the leadership of Coach John Hawks, the SCVA team won the Gold in Tulsa, going 8-1. They survived some very tough competition, going five sets against a team from the East Coast and a five-set match from Canada. Alex was named MVP of the tournament.
After a few weeks rest, Alex played a few tournaments on the beach, including his first professional beach tournament at Hermosa Beach.
In September of 2018, Pac6, 18s began its final season together. By this time, many of the players had made decisions about college volleyball. Marcus and Miles Partain committed to join Alex at UCLA, Akhil Tangatur chose UC Irvine, Justin Howard signed with Ohio State, Nico Posivak decided on Princeton, and Percy committed to Stevens Institute in New Jersey.
Pac6, under the leadership of coach Chris Austin, finished with a silver at the 2018 Holiday Classic, falling to 949. They won silver at the 2019 SCVA Junior Invitational, falling to SCVC. They secured their bid to the 2019 National Championships in Dallas. Finally, they finished with silver at the 2019 Boys Winter Championships, falling to Ultimate. All three finals came down to the wire with tight matches going three sets. Pac6 was the most dominant team in the country over 18 months – they won gold, silver, or bronze at 10 out of 11 major tournaments. Standing on the podium each month against the best teams in the country is an honor. At Junior Nationals in Dallas, the team placed 5th. It was not the result they wanted, but it ended an incredible journey that started four years prior with just 12 fourteen-year-old boys.
In March of 2019, Alex started his final season of high school volleyball. His team consisted of close friends he had played with since middle school. The team went 32-2. They were champions at the 31st annual Venice Tournament and the Culver City Tournament. Alex was named the MVP in both tournaments. The team reached the Division V CIF Southern Section Championship game, losing in a tight five-set match. Alex had a career-high 35 kills.
The Spring of 2019 saw recognition for some very hard work. Alex was named National Player of the Year by Volleyball Magazine and was ranked #1 on the Fab 50 list. He was also inducted into the Pacifica Christian High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
In March 2019, Alex logged into his USA account and received news that he had made his second U19 National Training Team. The team trained under Pepperdine Head Coach David Hunt in Florida at the High-Performance Championships. Alex's squad, USA Red, won the Gold Medal. Once again, the team was trimmed from 22 to 12, with the final 12 heading off in August 2019 to play at the World Championships in Tunis. Alex made the team and was selected as a team captain.
In Tunisia, the team placed 15th. They defeated the Dominican Republic, Nigeria, and Chinese Taipei. They fell to Russia, Germany, South Korea, Brazil, and Argentina. The experience was eye-opening. Players in the U19 division from around the world train together for months and months as compared to a few weeks for Team USA. Also, many players turn pro at 17 while the American players are focused on college. The level of play was so high that it inspired the boys to reach for more. They also learned how different federations approach training and volleyball. At the world championships, Alex led team USA in scoring and in kills and ranked in the top 25 in kills in the tournament.
In the fall of 2019, Alex began his UCLA journey. He tackled 6:00 am weight training, practices, class, ten-day trips across the country, and competed against some great competition - Long Beach State, USC, Pepperdine, Stanford, BYU, Princeton, Ohio State, Penn State, and more. Alex started 15 games in Covid 19 shortened season for the Bruins. He sat out four games with a concussion. He finished the season with 111 kills, 28 blocks, 16 Aces, and 75 Digs.
In March of 2020, Alex was selected by USA Volleyball to join the Men's Junior National Training Team - U21.
On March 12, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began to emerge in America, Coach Speraw called a team meeting and told the guys that Friday's game was canceled and that it was likely the rest of the season would be over. The team dispersed, staying in touch via Zoom, and waited to see what would come of the spring, summer, and fall. During this time of waiting and unknown, Alex moved home and began a lifting program at a local gym at Venice Beach. He played in some open gyms with other NCAA players in San Diego. In late August of 2020, the coaches decided they would send several players to Europe to play professionally while they waited to see if California would open up. Alex was placed on a team in Israel, one that his former coach and UCLA alum J.T. Hatch was on, along with USA National team player Kyle Ensing. As the time approached, the team got word that UCLA would be able to practice as a team. The plans for Europe and Israel were scratched. Alex moved back up to UCLA and got a nice apartment at the Glendon with teammates Cole Ketryzinski and Merrick McHenry.
At this time, Alex began to feel pain in his shoulder. An MRI confirmed two torn labrum that inhibited Alex's power, range of motion and really hurt. Alex met with the surgeon, trainers, and coaches and decided to see if physical therapy would rectify the problem. It was an up-and-down journey for sure, as some days he felt good, and some days it was frustratingly painful. He played in 12 games during a shorted covid season and sat out half the schedule. Injury was coupled with Covid quarantines. Alex never tested positive. However, because others around him came down with Covid, he had to quarantine for 28 days in January and February of 2021. Alex finished the season with strong performances in the MPSF championships at BYU, recording 25 kills in two matches and hitting .500. As the season ended, Alex knew he needed surgery. On May 4th, 2021, Alex had surgery on his shoulder. This fixed his labrum and rotator cuff and removed scar tissue. Alex began the two-hour daily regimen of physical therapy with a projected return to the court in September of 2021.
While rehabilitating his shoulder, Alex, in July of 2020, joined the U21 USA Junior National Team in Anaheim, California. He was not cleared to swing, so he spent 10 days with the team playing libero. Getting touches in the gym with the national team and working on his passing and leadership skills was a tremendous benefit during this rehab period.
Back on the UCLA campus and in the gym for the fall of 2021, Alex was ready and cleared to swing. Once back in the gym for his third season, Alex was named team captain and back in his usual spot at the outside pin. Alex helped his team to preseason victories over Pepperdine and Cal State Northridge. The 2021-2022 season at UCLA was bittersweet. The team went 22-5 and reached the NCAA semi-finals. They lost a heartbreaking 5-set match on their home floor against Long Beach State. UCLA won the first two sets, and the Beach under the strong play of Freshman Player of the Year Alex Nikolov came back to win the fifth 16-14. The loss, although tough, provided motivation for the next years.
2022-2023 Alex's senior year, the team went 31-2 and won the NCAA title, the team's 20th. The first by the Bruins since 2006. They defeated Long Beach State in the semi-finals and Hawaii in a thrilling 4-game final on ESPN. Announcer Paul Sunderland commented that it was the best volleyball he had seen in a decade. Alex was honored as the NCAA tournament MVP. He was also awarded 2nd Team All-American honors. Winning an NCAA championship was a goal, and doing it in convincing fashion was an added bonus. UCLA volleyball was back. Later that month, Alex graduated from UCLA, celebrating another milestone. The question was whether he would return to UCLA for a fifth year or turn pro.
During his recruiting visit to UCLA, while Alex was in 10th grade, coaches John Speraw and John Hawks asked Alex about his collegiate volleyball goals. Having a strong high school career in various sports, Alex was used to aiming high. He told the coaches that we wanted to help the team win two national titles while playing for the Bruins. This answer pleased the coaches as the Bruin legacy of winning national titles is embedded in Bruin Culture.
In 2023-2024, Alex's 5th year, the Bruins repeated as national champions, and Alex met his collegiate goal. They won the team's 21st title and were back-to-back champions. This time, Alex was in graduate school getting a master's in coaching and leadership. While the 2023 championships were played in Fairfax, Virginia, at George Mason in front of 8,000 fans, the 2024 championship was at Long Beach. After a strong season, with a few bumps along the way, the Bruins grabbed the #1 seed. They defeated UC Irvine in the semi-finals and Long Beach state in the finals. During the year, Alex played two positions. He started as an outside hitter in the first third of the season. However, the team was struggling to find a consistent libero to steady the team's serve receive. They experimented with other liberos on the roster and using their starting outside hitters in the libero position. They couldn't find the right chemistry. Coach Speraw came to Alex and let him know that he needed his passing skills at the libero spot. Alex was the best passer for the job. This was a tough change for Alex. Moving from the pin to the back row at 6'6" was not usual. In fact, it was rather unusual. Alex cared about the team and the goal of winning a championship so he played libero for the second half of the season. Winning a title as an MVP outside hitter and a second as a libero was an unconventional journey. However, leaving a legacy at UCLA was a dream.
In the summer of 2023 Alex was invited to train with the USA mens national team. After playing in the USA U19 and U21 programs moving up the mens team was a huge accomplishment. Alex was invited to move from the training team to the travel team set to play in Canada. The coach came to Alex and shared the good news. Alex had bad news for the coach. Just an hour before being selected, Alex dislocated his left shoulder in the weight room. He spent the next two months in recovery and cheered the team on back home in Los Angeles.
In the summer of 2024, Alex was invited to train with the men's national team again. Again, he made the travel squad and represented his country in Canada. This time, his body held up. Playing for USA in Costa Rica, Tunisia at the World Championships, and in Canada are high water marks. That, combined with two national championships at UCLA, set the stage for his pro career and the next leg of his volleyball journey.
In 2024-2025, Alex made the move to Germany, playing for the SWD Power Volleys Duren. His first year as a pro was a tremendous learning experience. He learned how to navigate living away from home for eight months and the different styles of play. In the winter of 2025, Alex decided to have an MRI on his knees. For two years, the pain in his knees was severe. Nonetheless, Alex did all he could in treatment and recovery to take care of his body so he could play at a high level. Being on the court as a starter for over a decade took its toll. Alex could tell his leaping ability was diminishing. Still, he was a starter in the German Bundesliga. During the MRI appointment, the doctor told Alex that his knees were severely damaged and that he found it startling that Alex was able to play and play at such a high level. Although the news about his knees was disappointing, it didn't surprise him. It confirmed what we had been feeling for several years. The good news is that it gave him clarity and provided new marching orders. If Alex could take a break from his professional career to heal his knees, it might be possible for him to come back stronger and better than before.
Throughout his career, Alex has been surrounded by incredible players, coaches, and people. The volleyball community around the world has been his second family, and it has been a joy for him to represent this family with courage, character, and joy. Playing with joy is what marks Alex's game. He is not only a tremendously skilled player, but he is also a good human being. On the court, he draws others out. When others are down, Alex points them to hope and competitiveness. He never gives up and brings a level of spirit to the court that is necessary for winning. Winning is what he has done. More than that, he has done it in a way that makes all of us proud and him a great ambassador of the sport.
Here are a few shout-outs to the people in his life who have been a key part of his Volleyball Journey.
Coaches and managers - John Speraw, Brad Keller, John Hawks, Nick Vogel, Brandan Tellafaro, Morteza Shiari, Robbie Chai, Mark Pocinich, David Hunt, Marv Dunphy, Avery Drost, Peter Partain, Jeff Conte, Charlie Schmittdel, Nick Macrae, Colin Mcmillan, Kainani Otsuji, Chris Austin, Gabby Lutjen, Nate Ngo, and of course, fellow Bruin JT Hatch.
Players: Pac6 Founders and players - Akhil Tangatur, Justin Howard, Marcus Partain, Miles Partain, Xander Hurley, Trey White, Andrew Arth, Tenzen, Percy Bickford, Nick Conte, Jake Mitchell, Johnny, Will Campbell, Nico Posavik...
UCLA Teammates: Merrick McHenry, Grant Sloane, David Flores, Troy Gooch, Ethan Champlin, Andrew Rowan, Kyle Vomsteeg, Cole Ketryzinski, Kofi Gymah, Cole Pender, Sam Kobrine, Kevin Cobrine, Ryan Norris, Ido David, Guy Gennis, Cooper Robinson, Zach Rama, Christopher Hersch, Ayrton Garcia-Jurado, Mathew Aziz, Coleman McDonagh, Matt Youngren, Adam Parks, Austin Matautia, Ian Eschenberg, Sam Burgi, Mads Kyed Jensen, Matthew Edwards, Spencer Graves, Micah Wong-Diallo, Sean McQuiggan, David Decker, Kahale Clini, Luca Curci, Ian Parish, Daniel Matheny, Grant Maleski, Cole Johnson, Brandon Rattray.
USA National Team Players: Mason Briggs, Joe Karlous, Clarke Godbold, Scott Solan, Aidan Knipe, Akin Akinwumi, James Hartley, Joe Deluzio, Kevin Kauling, Rico Wardlow, Gavin Julien, Ethan Hill, Adam Chang, Nathaniel Gates, Cole Power, Will Rottman, Nolan Flexen, Camden Gianni, Ethan Hill, Francesco Sani, Jacob Pasteaur, Brett Wildman, Jalen Penrose, Matt Knigge, Michael Marshman, Nathan Litzke,
Pro Players: Gregor Pernus, Matthew Neaves, Imanal Salazar, Robin Bagdady, Sohe Nose, Siebea Kornbleck, Francios Huetz, Nico Wegner, Robe Van de Veld,
Parents: David Howard, Nichole Howard, Seshadri Tangatur, Primalla Tangatur, Dina Briggs, Steve Briggs, Lisa Partain, Jenny McHenry, Jono Mitchell, Jessica Mitchell, Linda Posavik,
Pacifica Christian High School Teammates - Kenny Minchin, Dylan Schwimmer, Timmy Ellis, Ben Reasner, Eli Lingel, Stewart Cox, Ricky Selby, Jack Brew, Bailey Bland, Scott Yontez, Davis Bland, Monty Minchin, Gabriel Conway-Burt,
The paragraphs above capture facts and cement a chronology. They are highlights and a resume. There is much more to a story than just facts. The events above are filled with human experience, connections with so many incredible people, and life. Building a resume is foolish, building a life of joy, meaning, and purpose is real work. I am continually thankful for how this journey and the people I have encountered have shaped me and pointed me toward what is good, beautiful, and true. It's never been about volleyball, baseball or soccer or the sport itself. It's never been about winning, college, or accomplishment. Through all the practices, competitions, 5:00 am alarms, travel, weight training, film sessions, and team dinners it is about using your gifts well for God's glory, the good of others, and for your own joy. It's building a life of meaning and purpose.
An honor and a privilege.
