Amalia MacDonald is a standout pin hitter for Pitt Elite, known for her athletic prowess and commitment to community service. Beyond her success on the court, she founded a charity dedicated to assisting immigrant and refugee families in their transition to life in the United States, demonstrating her deep empathy and leadership. Amalia has been accepted to Middlebury College in Vermont, where she plans to study mathematics and economics, fields that will allow her to further her passion for social impact and economic equity. Amalia’s unique combination of athletic excellence, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to community service positions her as a promising young leader both on and off the court.
What do you plan to study in college? I plan to study mathematics and economics. I’ve always loved doing math. When I was in elementary school, my big brother would come home from school and teach me all the new math he had learned. When I was in first grade, he told me anything times zero is zero; when I was in third grade, he taught me anything to the zero power is one; when I was in sixth grade, he explained the Pythagorean Theorem. It may have started as a little sister looking up to her big brother, but it quickly turned into a genuine enjoyment of learning more advanced math at a younger age. I even looked forward to doing my math homework (almost) every night. Economics will help me get a better understanding of how the world works.
How did you get started with volleyball? My mom signed me up to try in-house volleyball, but I was vehemently opposed to playing the sport that my two older sisters loved. I was determined to play college lacrosse. After I gave volleyball a chance, I fell in love with the sport. In hindsight, I probably should have started playing volleyball at least two to three years earlier, but I am grateful for how far I’ve come.
Who is your most influential role model and why? My most influential role model is my older sister. She always has an incredible work ethic and works hard to get where she is in life. Watching her work for her success through consistent effort has shown me the value of determination and perseverance. I admire her and everything she has done, and hope to emulate that in my life and who I am.
What is your proudest moment in volleyball so far? My proudest moment in volleyball so far is either earning a bid to USAV Nationals in Chicago during my 16s season, or winning the WPIAL championship my senior high school season. Both of these moments were huge reflections on all the hard work that my teams had put in.
What’s your pre-game routine? For tournaments, my pre-game routine for a tournament is typically to eat a Key Lime Pie Chobani Flip or a protein shake – it’s a small ritual. During school season, my go-to routine was always a refresher from Starbucks or a Vitamin Water, for good luck. While those routines may be small, they always spark a sense of familiarity before a game.
What’s an important lesson you’ve learned from a coach? I think that the most important lesson that I have learned is having a “goldfish” mentality or next point have to be able to bounce back quickly and come back stronger. You can’t dwell on prior mistakes or one moment.
What key advice would you give to a young aspiring player? I would tell them to always work hard and consistently give 110% in everything they do, whether it is practice, lifting, or a game. You have to show up consistently and give all your effort every time you step onto the court, or go to a lift, or do anything in life. You should always stay coachable and be open to feedback.
How do you balance your social life with your volleyball commitments? Luckily, volleyball is a big part of my social life. A lot of my closest friends are on my volleyball team, so I get to spend time with them all the time at practices, tournaments, and outside of volleyball. At the same time, I have learned to stay organized and ahead of school work, because my schedule then has more flexibility and free time for my friends and family outside of volleyball.
What would most people be surprised to learn about you? Most people would be surprised to learn that I started a charity called Brazos de Bienvenida, which focuses on helping immigrant and refugee families transition into life in the U.S. People would be surprised to learn that I am the youngest of four, and my oldest sister is 12 years older than me. I always had people to look up to and follow in their footsteps as a child.
What are three activities you enjoy outside of volleyball? I love playing Spikeball, going on walks with my friends, and hiking. I generally enjoy anything outside.
Night owl or morning person? Honestly, I am a mix of both. I don’t love to wake up early, but my body always naturally wakes up early anyways. I can stay up late if need be, but I feel the best when I wake up early and get a head start on my day.