Senior Spotlight: Melanie Tracey, Penn State Mont Alto
Welcome to our Senior (and Sophomore) Spotlight series. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the PSUAC had to cancel its fall and winter sport seasons. This prevented several student-athletes from receiving a proper senior day and minimized opportunities for Player of the Week awards. In its place, we will highlight seniors from around the conference throughout the remainder of the semester.
See more Senior Spotlight highlights on our Twitter (@psuac) and Instagram (psuac)!
Name: Melanie Tracey
Campus: Mont Alto
Primary Sport: Volleyball
Primary Position(s): Libero
Hometown: York, PA
High School: Dallastown Area High School
Major: RPTM
Academic Achievements: PSUAC Academic All-conference; Was nominated for the Penn State Mont Alto Honors Program;l Became a member of Penn State Mont Alto Honors Program in 2020
Athletic Achievements: Team captain; Starting Libero; Ranked third libero/digs in the USCAA; Awarded the John Fritz Sportsmanship award; USCAA All-American Honorable Mention
Additional Info: Led Mont Alto's team in digs the past season (402) and 615 career digs.
How did your Penn State education prepare you for life after graduation? Although I am still continuing my studies at Penn State, I am looking forward to see my overall academic growth and how it will help me achieve my professional goals.
How do you hope to be remembered by teammates and coaches? I want to be remembered for my constant optimism during challenging times in game situations. Being able to see the positives when the team as a whole needed some encouragement. I also want to be remembered for having a constant effort to help the team. The numerous holes in the elbows of my jersey are constant reminders of my efforts to help benefit my team!
What is your favorite memory from playing your sport at Penn State? Our victory against Brandywine was unforgettable! The amount of energy, excitement, and adrenaline was exhilarating! By the time we earned our victory our Mont Alto family pride was at a all time high!
What is the best advice you ever received from a coach or teammate that you would share with other student-athletes? To ALWAYS lead by example! To display true character, integrity, respect, leadership, and teamwork as well as constant hustle and determination. Leading by example will not only benefit the player displaying honest virtues but the rest of her team as well, thereby making the sportsmanship exceptional and competition success high!
What are you most looking forward to post graduation? Or in your transition to University Park (or other campus) to finish your degree? I am looking forward to continue my preexisting leadership and teamwork skills. Skills that I have learned in the Penn State classroom as well as on the court. I'm hoping one day these skills will continue to benefit me in my future endeavors.
What are some of the tools or skills that you learned through all the years of playing your sport that you plan to instill once you enter the workforce? The importance of leadership is a skill I have developed throughout my athletics that I want to continue growing and utilize this skill in my future.
What impact did athletics have on your experience as a college student? What is your favorite memory outside of athletics during your time as a student-athlete? Aside from the many great memories through athletics I have also shared so many laughs with other Penn State students that I am so lucky to have met!
Please use this space to thank anyone you wish to acknowledge for their support during your academic and athletic career. In regards to my colligate athletics and my overall Penn State career I am so thankful for my coaches Randy Hood, and Rusty Fleming. I have greatly appreciated playing for two coaches who care so much for their team, on the court as well as off the court. Thank you for giving me the chance and opportunity to play the game we are most passionate for. I am just as grateful for all of my beautiful and talented teammates who I had the pleasure to sharing the court with, sharing laughs will, and being able to play the game we all love so dearly. Thank you for everything that Penn State Mont Alto Women's Volleyball has done for me! A special kind of family that I will never forget, and will always miss.