Bethel Park hitter picks Charleston
Alexa Pstoka recently committed to the College of Charleston. She will play both indoor and sand volleyball for the Cougars.
Alexa Psotka is nearing the 1,000-kill milestone in her volleyball career at Bethel Park High School.
Alexa Pstoka strikes the pose that has netted her nearly 1,000 kills in her volleyball career at Bethel Park High School.
Bethel Park senior Alexa Psotka practices spiking the volleyball.
Alexa Psotka stands at 5-11 and wears rainbow Nike shoes during her Bethel Park volleyball matches. Yet, the senior captain doesn’t need much to distinguish herself on the court.
A four-year letter winner, Psotka recorded her 1,000th career kills. She helped lead the Black Hawks to a 3-1 victory over defending WPIAL Class AAAA champion Canon-McMillan.
Psotka also committed to College of Charleston in South Carolina. She will play indoor and sand volleyball in college
“The Olympics opened my eyes,” Psotka said of sand volleyball, which was popularized by U.S. olympians Carrie Walsh and Misty May-Treanor. “It really got me going.”
In the summer, Pstoka drives eight hours to Columbus, Ohio, to play sand volleyball Wednesdays with her teammate Charlie Allison.
“Once you pick up sand, it’s hard to choose which you prefer,” Psotka said of the two types of games.
She noted the differences between sand and indoor volleyball involve the elements of course and the pace of play, as the courts are basically the same size.
“There is a lot of area to cover and you communicate with your partner a lot more,” she said. “You have to pick the way to serve the ball depending on the wind. You have to have super clean sets. No spin on the ball. Read the hitter. Be faster.”
Psotka worked on her speed and agility by training with Mike Semplice at AmeriFit in Mt. Lebanon.
She also continued to play AAU volleyball. She is a member of Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball club.
“That’s all helped prepare me,” she said.
Psotka got creative with workouts during the period when schools were canceled and businesses, including fitness centers and gyms, were shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
She put a volleyball net up in the backyard and practiced one to two hours, four times a week while receiving personalized instruction from Victor Morais.
Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward and Stanley Cup champion Tyler Kennedy gave the family some weights for Pstoka to use during the pandemic.
“COVID-19 gave me time and I had to use it wisely,” she said. “I didn’t see it then, but time was a gift that was given to me and I found a way. I could go on runs, practice and spend more time with my family.”
Pstoka is also a standout on the BP track team, having qualified for the WPIAL championships in the javelin. Her best throw was 125 feet.
Pstoka’s father, Dalibor, is a former World Junior ice hockey champion that played professionally before moving from the Czech Republic to the United States in 1999. He currently coaches with Kennedy in the South Hills Amateur Hockey Association. His son, Anton, plays for the nine-year-old club.
Pstoaka’s aunt, however, served as her inspiration. Petra Kubalkova played professional volleyball. She encouraged Pstoka to pick up the game.
“I basically tried every single sport and was good at all of them but my aunt said to try volleyball because I was tall for my age,” Pstoka said. “I enjoyed it the most.”
Pstoka, who averages two blocks and five aces a match, helped BP earn playoff spots in 2017 and 2018. She had 19 kills and five aces in the win against the Big Macs.
The Hawks registered 52 kills against C-M and had a 0.361 team hitting percentage. Setter Lucia Coccagno managed 42 assists.
“Lucia makes the best possible sets and she also has the best advice,” Pstoka said. “I’m so thankful to her because she’s the reason why I’ve gotten the mark. It’s very exciting and took a lot of hard work by a lot of people.”
In her final season at BP, Pstoka said she hopes to lead the team not only as a “good player,” but as a leader.
“Obviously, we want to go all the way and win championships,” she said. “This season has the most opportunities and I want it to last super long because it’s the last one.”
Pstoka plans to major in sports medicine in college. She said she aspires to open her own practice once her playing career is over.
Pstoka picked Charleston after visiting Akron, Rhode Island, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and Youngstown State. She also had an offered from Canisus.
“I was looking for a place where I could make an impact and do something. I definitely want to impact both teams,” she said. “I’m trying to balance academics and athletics while having a good college experience.”
Age: 17
Birthday: Dec. 6
Parents: Brenda and Dalibor
Sibling: Anton, 9
School: Bethel Park
Year: Senior
Sports: Volleyball, track (javelin)
College choice: College of Charleston
Major: Sports medicine
Food: Sushi
Color: Maroon or red
Restaurant: Little Tokyo in Mt. Lebanon
Book: Misty: My Journey Through Volleyball and Life by Misty May-Treanor
Movie: All-American
Favorite athlete: Kathryn Plummer, who played for Stanford and signed a pro contract with Saugella Team Monza from Italy
Who would play you in a movie: I don’t know. Maybe my best friend Lucia Caccagno. She knows me best.
Dream Destination:The Exumas in the Bahamas Islands. “You get to swim with pigs there. I think that would cool.”
People might be surprised to know this about you: “I hate chocolate. Actually, I don’t like sweet foods too much. Thank goodness because I can’t control what eat. I would be massive.”
Person you would like to have dinner with: Carrie Walsh. “The advice she has to give and all the secrets she could share would be fascinating.”
There will be a shake-up in the Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association’s Top Ten Poll after Bethel Park defeated defending WPIAL champion Canon-McMillan, 3-1.
The Hawks were ranked No. 4 while the Lady Macs were No. 3 in Quad-A prior to the defeat. North Allegheny and Moon were 1-2 and Upper St. Clair rounded out the grouping.
BP’s Alexa Pstoka and USC’s Gigi Madson earned WPVCA Player of the Week honors. Both are senior hitters.
In Class AAA, South Fayette is ranked fourth behind Franklin Regional, Montour and Beaver.
Becky Stephens was among the Players of the Week selected for Class AAA. She is a junior middle hitter.
In Class AA, Seton LaSalle and South Park rank seventh and eighth.
SP’s senior outside hitter Shannon Gorny garnered POW laurels.
In Class A, Bishop Canevin is ranked No. 1.
Sophomore outside hitter Kiera Kozlowski led the Crusaders, gaining POW honors.