Dec. 18, 2014
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Missouri Valley Conference Senior Associate Commissioner Patty Viverito announced today (Dec. 18) that Missouri State softball player Allie Alvstad will be one of the 2014-15 recipients of the league's Most Courageous Award.
The MVC presents the Most Courageous Award to a past or present student-athlete, coach or university administrator who demonstrates unusual courage in the face of personal illness, adversity or tragedy and whose behavior reflects honor on the institution or the Conference. Individuals receiving the award might also have performed heroic feats or otherwise inspired others.
The award presentation to Alvstad will occur prior to game one of the Bears' doubleheader against Loyola on Saturday, April 11.
Alvstad, who is currently battling acute myeloid leukemia (AML), joins current associate head volleyball coach Jeni Jones (2011-12) and former Lady Bear assistant coach Trish Marsh (2010-11) as the third MSU Bear to receive the Most Courageous Award from the league.
Alvstad will undergo a bone marrow transplant beginning Friday (Dec. 19) at the Baylor Cancer Center in Dallas, Texas, and has battled through two rounds of chemotherapy with positive and energetic results. She was diagnosed with AML on September 4, 2014, after being admitted to the hospital on Labor Day.
"Over the years, recipients of the MVC Most Courageous Award have been an inspiration to all of us in college sports," said Viverito, "and Allie Alvstad now joins these most inspirational individuals. Allie's courageous fight against cancer serves as a guiding example of how to challenge and beat adversity. The Missouri Valley Conference stands together with Allie on her courageous journey."
Alvstad played in 29 games and was penciled into the starting lineup on nine occasions as a freshman in 2014. She drove in her first career run with an RBI groundout against Alabama A&M (Feb. 21) and her first career hit was an RBI single against Bradley on March 15. She drove in two runs with a pinch hit single in a win over Southern Illinois (March 29). Alvstad singled and drew a walk at Arkansas (April 1). She walked and scored, and later singled in a Bears' win at Loyola (April 7). She had a pinch-hit single in the MVC Tournament quarterfinals against Bradley (May 8).
"Allie is so deserving of this prestigious award not only for the personal courage, strength and grace she has shown on this journey, but also in letting others share, support, and walk beside her on this journey," stated Missouri State head softball coach Holly Hesse. "It is a reflection of her character that while facing this difficult health challenge she has been the catalyst for others to show their courage and in the process bring our campus, our community, and others across the country together."
Alvstad was a four-year starter and letterwinner behind the plate at Bixby High in Oklahoma. She earned all-state, all-region and all-district honors with the Spartans and her team won the Silver Division of the Springfield Invitational in September 2012. Alvstad was awarded Freshman of the Year from the Frontier Conference in 2009 and was the recipient of her school's Wendy's High School Heisman award.
For more information on Allie's Journey and ways to show support, visit the Allie Strong page for updates.
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