It’s been an up-and-down 2024-25 season for the Iowa women’s volleyball team, but they may have found an offensive spark with first-year outside hitter Alyssa Worden.
Worden redshirted last year, but has emerged as a key piece for the Hawkeyes with her offensive skills. The first-year had a career night against No. 3 Penn State on Nov. 1, recording 10 kills and 14 digs, second only to fifth-year Joy Galles with 15.
“We learned some valuable lessons to help us moving forward,” Iowa head coach Jim Barnes told HawkeyeSports after the game, a 3-1 loss to the Nittany Lions. “Alyssa played very well in her first start playing all six rotations. We are improving.”
Worden has also battled injuries during her career, suffering a torn ACL in June 2022. It was a tough rehab, but she worked hard and returned to volleyball, something Barnes admires.
“Alyssa has come back from a really tough injury and she’s worked really hard to get back to this level,” Barnes said. “She brings a lot to the table as far as helping our team really play balanced. We’re hopeful she’ll continue to play well and be a big difference maker for hitting on the left side.”
Hailing from Bartlett, Illinois, Worden had a successful career at South Elgin High School and was named as the fifth-best player in the state of Illinois by Illinois Prep Volleyball in the class of 2023.
The aforementioned Penn State game was Worden’s first start, a position that she had been preparing for for months.
“I’ve been working my way up towards that six-rotation outside position since the beginning of the season,” Worden said. “Basically, they gave me a shot and I felt a lot of confidence going into the game. I just put it all out on the court, played my hardest.”
In addition to playing a key role on the court, Worden has also brought a positive mentality to her Iowa squad.
“I think I’m a good ball control player,” Worden said. “I bring a lot of energy to the team as well. Volleyball is such a team sport and you have to have great energy to be on the court. It contributes a lot and it hypes everybody up.”
Third-year setter Claire Ammeraal, who surpassed 2,000 career assists earlier this season, admires Worden’s competitive edge.
“She’s very fierce,” Ammeraal said. “She really puts her whole heart and soul into the game. That’s really nice to see, that it’s kind of contagious to everybody else. It makes everybody else want to play a little bit harder.”
Ammeraal also praises Worden’s resiliency after overcoming a difficult injury.
“I think that is so impressive for anybody to come back from an injury like that,” Ammeraal said. “She’s been working so hard. She’s worked so hard in the weight room and in practice, and it’s really nice to see all of her hard work pay off like that.”
As the season moves into its final stretch, Barnes hopes Worden can continue her stellar play.
“I’m really proud of her work ethic and how patient she’s been as she’s trying to work her way back into form,” Barnes “She had a great game against Penn State and we’re hoping she can continue that.”