Lindsey Ridgway is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Gilbert Christian High School for AZPreps365.com

After having six coaches in the last six seasons, Gilbert Christian High School girls volleyball program was on the hunt after the 2022 season for not only a new coach but someone to give the players stability and accountability.

That is where Alyssa (Rex) Misuraca comes in. The 25-year-old Arizona native and former NCAA Division 3 setter came to Gilbert Christian this past season and has been coaching almost as long as she has been playing. Though, making the transition from beach volleyball club coach at One Beach to high school was not her original plan. 

Gilbert Christian Athletic Director Mark Duitsman, when looking for someone to fill the role, reached out to One Beach club director Ryan Rublick.  The name of Misuraca, who was coaching at One Beach at the time, got thrown into the mix. 

“From there it was like every door was shut around me and it was like, ‘No, this is where you are supposed to go,’” Misuraca said. “It felt very much like this is where I was supposed to be.”

Along with being a coach, Misuraca also owns her own company called Balanced Performance, which focuses on the “off the court” aspects like nutrition, mental health, and recovery.

After being introduced to the idea of mental performance during her sophomore year at Keuka College in New York, Misuraca initially rejected the idea. But Misuraca says that once she gave it time and tried the practices her coach was suggesting, she was able to see the success it had for her. With the lack of opportunity in that field, Misuraca decided to start her business post-graduation. 

“It was a transition from being a team coach to just privates and starting to work with kids on the court, then realizing I could do this on Zoom and just work on the mental skills aspect as well,” Misuraca said. “We focus on everything. We work with any athlete, any performer, and focus on the mental side and just being overall balanced, whether that be nutrition, sleep, or recruiting for volleyball athletes.” 

Coming into a team that has had no consistency outside of returning second-year assistant coach Andrew Rassmussen, Misuraca uses her knowledge and business as a way to focus on who the girls are off the court, not just on it.

Sophomore Sidney Loth has learned this season how to keep her mentality in check due to Misuraca’s coaching. 

“She helps us get out of our heads quickly,” Loth said. “But it also helps me to push myself and to know that it's just a game and that whatever happens, it is never all on myself, but that I have a whole team to back me up.” 

Along with that, Misuraca focuses on pinpointing who her players are as people and that while still young, it is important to hear her team out as people and make them feel heard.

“We try to see them as people and talk to them as people and understand them as people instead of these robots that can step out on the court and perform the same every day,” Misuraca said.

With a large majority of the varsity team being underclassmen, the transition to this mindset and outlook on the game, according to Misuraca, has been well-received because the team primarily has yet to learn much different. 

Junior Kaila Aston, one of the older girls on the team and who has been through multiple head coaching changes, says Misuraca encourages mistakes and won’t just pull you out because of them. 

“One of her main points and something I have struggled with is self-talk and being kind to yourself,” Aston said. “She knows that it's not a problem for us as a team but for us individually and so she just really emphasizes how important it is to be kind to yourself.”

Throughout the season, Misuraca has been trying to get one point across to her young group of players.

“You’re worth more than who you are in the gym,” Misuraca said. “I think that makes them more OK with what happens at any other point and us reinforcing it makes it easier when they have a bad day and for them knowing first and foremost, God is their rock.” 

With her first season as head coach has wrapped up with the team going 7-1 in region and placing second in 3A South Central, Misuraca is proud and hopeful for the team’s future.

The Knights won their play-in game in four sets versus Payson, but lost a state playoff game against Safford.