While some people grow up playing a sport that defines their entire life, middle blocker Alicia Coppedge grew up with dreams of becoming an engineer. Guided by the path of academics to reach her goal, Coppedge found volleyball along the way. Now a recent graduate with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, Coppedge is pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration as well as competing in her last year of eligibility at UTSA. Despite playing multiple sports in middle school, Coppedge only began playing club volleyball in her junior year of high school.
“It was kind of more of an accident ’cause I started club super late,” Coppedge said. “They just told me that the school emailed me and I heard about it and I came here and I liked it a lot. I wasn’t trying to go to college for volleyball or sports so it was kind of just like a happy accident.”
Coming out of high school, Coppedge decided on UTSA not just for volleyball but for its engineering program. Coppedge was used to focusing on her studies and being an athlete on the side. She then entered the university as a student-athlete who was about to learn the weight of Division I.
“That was my biggest struggle freshman/sophomore year because I was so used to being more like the engineer and then I just played a bunch of different sports and those kind of came separate,” Coppedge said. “Then I got here and I realized that volleyball is such a job. It’s a 24/7 thing. You really have to be on top of it. Honestly, it was pretty difficult juggling that, especially with the amount of classes I was taking, but I think that this athletics program is really good about providing you with tutors and making sure that your class schedules don’t overwhelm you and fit with volleyball so you’re not constantly running back and forth.”
While focusing on her studies, her love for the sport only grew. Coppedge is a natural on the court but continued to improve her skills as a middle blocker over time.
“I was definitely here for school, but then overtime volleyball became such a thing,” Coppedge said. “I understand why people are passionate because I’ve been playing for so long. I started understanding and wanting to be passionate about it and wanting to win, and I just wanted to play for my team. I think it was just the amount of time you spend with the girls. It builds a bond and makes you want to play for them.”
In her final season at UTSA, Coppedge has set a new school record for blocks in a match; she has led the Roadrunners in blocks for the past two seasons and is currently No.4 in blocks among players in the American Athletic Conference.
“I think the reason that I was more than likely recruited was because I was naturally good at blocking and I knew that,” Coppedge said. “Over time I’ve had different coaching staff and they would each try to fix my arm swing and I think that they really did help me with that. I think our coaching staff was always really good. I feel like I’ve become a completely different player because honestly when I got to college I really didn’t think I was that good and I only took a couple years, in my opinion, I’ve grown so much. I’m a completely different player and I’m way better.
“I do think being a middle is very difficult and I do think it’s really important because middles, in my opinion, set a lot of tones for the game. We’re called the middle blocker for a reason, not middle hitter. Depending on how the block is set up, it changes a lot of things for defense in the back row. Everyone wants to say if you miss a serve that’s the end of the point. If you don’t have a good block set up, you can’t get a dig; that’s also the end of the point. If you get a block, that’s an end of a point,” Coppedge said. “So I think the block is honestly one of the most important things and it changes the tone of everything because you can be the best hitter in the world but if you get blocked then you’re in your head. So you’re basically just messing with the other team’s mind so I think it’s kind of the best, most interesting, most fun position.”
Just as Coppedge’s love for blocking drew her to becoming a middle blocker, her love for math drew her to engineering. She has already found great success in the industry with a variety of opportunities and hopes to find a job in the field that allows her to travel.
“I knew I wanted to do engineering from a young age because I just like math a lot,” Coppedge said. “I don’t necessarily love science, but I love the fact that science answers a lot of questions which is why engineering clearly makes the most sense for me. I really wanted to do engineering and I wanted to work in the oil and gas fuel, and at first, I thought about doing civil but then I just switched to mechanical because it was so much more broad and I can go into any field. I just think that the fact that I have so many opportunities, especially right now, and I see myself and I see all these job options that I have, I think that that’s really something that I’ve looked into.”
Aside from her academic and athletic qualities, Coppedge is a fun personality who loves to laugh and dance. In her free time, Coppedge loves watching movies, writing books and drawing. She has a deep appreciation for music and enjoys listening to anything upbeat that she can dance to. She has juggled so much from school, internships and sports and continues to seek newfound success where she has not already.
“I think that the fact that I continued school, starting a master’s is really good for me, especially coming out of volleyball because it gave me the chance to meet people that I haven’t been able to meet over the years,” Coppedge said. “I would say that it’s been a roller coaster ride, to be honest. It’s been really fun. A lot of ups and downs but that was also just a part of college. I think that volleyball has shaped my college experience completely and I don’t think that I would’ve had the same opportunities or experiences that I’ve had. I’ve been able to be around so many athletes, I’ve been able to travel more than I’ve ever traveled before. I think it’s just been a really good experience, especially because of volleyball. It’s given me a group of people. I basically have a group of people for life.”
Coppedge’s unique journey sets an example for those taking on new experiences. That is where dedication and discipline shine, opportunity follows.
