Quick Hits with Alyssa Basdavanos
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Quick Hits gives University of Miami volleyball fans an opportunity to get to know the newcomers on the 2016 Hurricanes roster.
After meeting freshmen Sara Duque, Carly Davey, Hannah Sorensen and Madison Dill, the latest installment of Quick Hits introduces Canes fans to junior Alyssa Basdavanos. A member of the rowing team, Basdavanos is excited to add volleyball to her athletic endeavors at Miami.
Name: Alyssa Basdavanos
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawai’i
High School: Punahou School
Major: Neuroscience
Q&A
Q: What has your time at Miami been like so far?
A: My time at Miami introduced me into a culturally diverse world unlike any other place. Coming from the melting pot of the Pacific, I always loved being surrounded by so many different types of people. Being in Miami has broadened my horizons even further than I could have imagined. The energy of the people, the city, and the school has given me the confidence to succeed here.
Q: What has been your favorite part of being a Hurricane?
A: I love that people are proud to be a Hurricane, and I love how renowned the University of Miami has become because of it. We have the spirit of being at a large public school, while reaping the benefits of being at a smaller private school.
Q: Has anyone taken you under their wing, shown you around and helped with your transition to college? If so, who, and how have they helped you adjust?
A: Throughout my freshman year I made really good friends both inside and outside of athletics. One of the upperclassman swimmers, Heather Arseth, really took me under her wing. We both loved the water, we were both neuroscience majors, and people even said that we looked alike. Heather was a really great role model for me because of her dedication and passion for both school and sports. Seeing someone like that was motivating and inspiring. I ended up moving in with her and two other seniors last semester. I lived with Heather, Stephanie Wagner from women’s tennis, and Laura Hendee from women’s golf. All three seniors were incredible athletes, but also incredible people. I am very lucky to have met them and become good friends with them.
Q: What has been the biggest adjustment for you since you arrived?
A: The biggest adjustment for me has definitely been the flight all the way over to Miami. It’s a long way to go, but there were many parallels between Miami and Hawai’i, which really helped me to transition smoothly into college.
Q: Are there any classes you are taking so far that you like?
A: I loved organic chemistry and biology (evolution and diversity).
Q: What made you choose your major?
A: I am very meticulous about everything I do. I like to break everything down, fully understand it, and then see where it fits in the big picture and how it connects to other fields. I chose to become a neuroscience major because of an English class in high school. The class looked at rhetoric and how it affected how people would react to the paper, article, speech, etc. In this class, I was introduced how rhetoric affected our brains. I quickly became immersed on how an English class could be so related to science. Both of my parents are in the medical field, so the interest in science was always lingering. Neuroscience fascinated me because I found that I could relate it to everything that I did.
Q: What are you most excited for about being in college?
A: I’m excited to have so many opportunities laid out in front of me. There are so many different things to get involved in, it’s just a matter of what you want to pursue.
Fill in the Blank
I committed to Miami over other schools because: The school fit me best, and I wanted to explore a place much different from home.
When I think of Miami volleyball, I think of: Girls who love to play the game and are willing to work hard throughout the season to be one of the top teams in the nation. I think of a bunch of great players and great friends working towards a common goal.
My favorite part of being a Hurricane student-athlete is: Surrounding myself with people with the same competitive and diligent mindset. It’s motivating to be around.
If I had to describe the team in one word it would be: Energetic.
Coral Gables is different from my hometown because: It is very flat! There are no mountains to use as land markers.
The biggest adjustment from high school to college has been: Discovering my inner chef.
When I committed to the University of Miami, I felt: Happy.
I love volleyball because: Hawai’i loves volleyball. I was surrounded in volleyball culture growing up. I used to watch my local team, the University of Hawai’i, play against some of the top teams in the country, surrounded by so much support from their state. The arena was packed every single game. I loved volleyball because of the positive energy that came with the sport, and I love how I could take a volleyball and just start peppering or playing wherever I went. Volleyball is a game that you can never stop improving in. I like how there is always the potential to get better to reach new levels of volleyball.
My favorite moment in my volleyball career was: Playing at beach nationals at Hermosa Beach.
Quick Hits
Favorite Athletes: Duke Kahanamoku and Bethany Hamilton
Favorite Professional Sports Team: New York Giants
Favorite Meal: Spicy Ahi Poke bowls from Foodland Hawai’i
Favorite Candy: Cotton Candy
Favorite Movie: “Field of Dreams”
Favorite TV Show: “Big Bang Theory”
Favorite Music Artist: Jack Johnson
My first pet was: a parakeet
My favorite place on campus is: the top of the student center
My favorite University of Miami alumni is: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
The farthest place from home I’ve been is: Massachusetts
If I could be any celebrity, I would be: Emma Watson
If I could take a vacation anywhere in the world, I would travel to: Bali, Tokyo, Gold Coast, Tahiti, Greece
In my spare time, I like to: surf, play beach volleyball, shoot and edit video, and hike
My favorite sport to watch on TV is: freestyle snowboarding
My nicknames are: People call me Lyss for short. They call me “Hawai’i,” “Aloha,” or “Mahalo” a lot when I’m in Miami.
For all the latest information on Miami Hurricanes volleyball, follow the official Twitter feed, @CanesVB, or “Like Us” on Facebook at facebook.com/UMVolleyball. The program is also on Instagram.
