This summer has been busy, busy, busy for Academy student-athlete Alyssa Keller! Keller is a beach volleyball athlete, and she has been practicing and perfecting her sport through various tournaments and competitions this summer. On June 17, Keller competed in the Pompano Beach Recruiting Showcase where she and her volleyball partner placed first out of thirty-three teams! The Pompano showcase was attended by a number of colleges and coaches Colleges in attendance were: Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Georgia State, Grand Canyon, North Florida, Florida Gulf Coast, Louisiana State, Stetson, FIU, University of South Carolina, Tulane, University of Tampa, Austin Peay University and Florida Southern College. Although Keller is only 14-years-old, she competed in the 16 Open division with her partner Courtney Jackson and won the tournament in a field of 63 teams! Courtney plays out of P4:13 Beach Volleyball Training in Missouri.

She and her partner then traveled south to compete in the Hollywood Beach National West Coast Championships Junior Olympics qualifier. At that meet, Keller again won first place in the 16 Open Gold/Division. The Hollywood Beach tournament was put on by Florida Beach Volleyball Tour and took place on Father's Day! Jackson (also 14 years of age) and Keller made each of their dads proud with their first place win and gold medals! The girls also earned a bid to the West Coast Championships Junior Olympics in Hermosa Beach, California.

So, what's next for Keller this summer? She's gearing up for a trip to California in July to compete in the BVCA (Beach Volleyball Clubs of America) tournament for Elite Volleyball Prep at Montverde Academy. After that, she'll go on to play for national titles at the USAV Nationals in Siesta Key, Florida and two other national competitions. In addition, she has been selected to be part of the 2017 Junior Volleyball Association Beach Watch list.

Way to go, Alyssa!