The following is a spotlight on Amelia Moore, the University of Dayton’s nominee for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award. The Atlantic 10 institutions nominated a total of 17 outstanding student-athletes for the award (READ MORE). The A-10 will spotlight each of the institutional nominees.
Amelia Moore Profile
Amelia Moore is an oft-honored volleyball middle blocker, earning end of season Atlantic 10 All-Conference accolades every year at Dayton, garnering second or first team selections each year, and she was named A-10
Rookie of the Year as a freshman. She earned A-10 weekly
honors 13 times in her career, and she helped lead the Flyers
to eight A-10 titles during her tenure (5 Championship titles,
3 Regular Season titles). She ranks in the top five in four
different milestones and records at Dayton and earned
AVCA All-Region recognition twice.
Academically, Moore was a fixture on the Atlantic 10
Commissioner’s Honor Roll each year, and also earned
A-10 All-Academic and CSC Academic All-District in 2022
and 2023. She was an AVCA All-District Team finalist in
2023 and she closed out her Dayton tenure as a UD
Presidential Scholar. She won the UD Graduate Student
Summer Fellowship award in 2023 and in 2024 had a
paper published in the renowned Nature Neuroscience
Journal. She also had an Approved Thesis Defense on
"Exploring Neural Circuitry and Purkinje Cell Changes
Underlying Cerebellum-Dependent Motor Abnormalities
in Down Syndrome" in 2024.
A nominee for Dayton’s Rudy Award for Social Justice,
Moore donated significant time to volunteer efforts.
She helped at Colin’s Lodge with cognitive-deficit
individuals, presented to the Ohio Miami Valley Society
for Neuroscience, and mentored undergrads at the Sathyanesan Lab. She also volunteered with the Dayton South Veterinary Clinic and advocated for biology lab animals through animal husbandry policy writing. Moore also coached volleyball to youths in Dayton and her home state of Mississippi and participated in Dayton’s annual Christmas on Campus and in food and heath supply drives.
Q & A
What would you consider the top moment of your college career?
My last season (2023) was the top moment in my career. As a leader coming off a very tough loss in the conference tournament in the previous season (2022), it took much sacrifice and commitment to get the team ready for the next season. Dayton volleyball prides itself on being a player-led team, so it was up to me and the other captains to make the necessary adjustments. We had many hard conversations and self-reflections to figure out the best solution. While I was juggling the demands of volleyball training, leading, and my neuroscience research, it was very rewarding to see it all pay off. Our team was able to finish 20th in the nation and re-established our dominance in the conference in 2023. The ups and downs that occurred behind the scenes in the less than average Dayton season in 2022 helped teach me many valuable lessons about friendships, leadership, and teamwork. I would not be the person I am today without that loss in 2022 and growth in 2023.
What was the hardest obstacle you faced as a student-athlete?
As many athletes experience, injury was the biggest obstacle I faced. In my freshman year, I broke my foot. It was my first major injury that led to time away from the game I love. I didn’t know how to cope with the emotions of missing out which led to many tears being shed. Later in my career, I began to have chronic shoulder pain. It was mentally taxing trying to understand why my body wasn’t performing the way it had always done. The mental battle became extremely overwhelming when no one could give answers as to why or find proper alleviation from the pain. Eventually, I made the decision to get a second opinion that led to finally finding an answer. I had four PRP injections and one cortisone shot put into my shoulder to help the issue and to avoid surgery. I spent everyday in the athlete training room for 3+ years trying to rehab and strengthen my shoulder. I still struggle today with some pain but if I hadn’t gotten the second opinion and continued working hard, I would be in a much worse spot and might not even be able to play professionally. The biggest lesson that I learned from this obstacle was it is important to speak up for myself.
What hard goals have you set and/or accomplish?
One of my biggest volleyball goals from the start was to make it on a professional volleyball team overseas. I am happy to say I reached that goal and will be going to play in France for the Beziers Angels for the 2024-25 season. Academically, I had to use my six years wisely at Dayton because I wanted to get the highest degree I could. I reached my goal when I passed my thesis defense to complete my Master’s in Biology. As well, I have a co-authorship in a published NatureNeuroscience paper with more papers to come. After my pro career carries on as long as it can, my next goal is to get into medical or veterinary school. My dream career has always been to become a doctor because of my drive and passion to help others.
What are three words your teammates would use to describe you, and why?
- Consistent - I showed up for my teammates no matter what was going on in my personal and academic life. As a captain in the last three seasons of my career, I needed to be there mentally, emotionally, and physically for them. I lead more through my actions and playing consistently was the best way I could lead. I always made sure I was there for each of my teammates on and off the court.
- Passionate - Whether it’s about volleyball or my beliefs, I am very vocal about what I am passionate about. My friends can tell you that I am a huge science girl that loves Mother Nature. They can also tell you that I’ve stayed in volleyball for so long because I love it deeply. I put my heart and soul into the things I care about- family, friends, nature, science, and sport.
- Caring - I always try to make sure everyone around me is taken care of even before I take care of myself. Whether it’s giving them a little sweet treat or sending a check-in text, I try my best to make sure I reach out to those that I know might be struggling. Through the years, I’ve learned when it’s best to sit down and chat with a struggling friend or to just give them space. My teammates will most likely say I always try to lighten the mood with jokes or some sarcasm to make sure people can have a good laugh. Overall, I treat my teammates like family. I care for their well-being, especially knowing the demands and toll that sport and academic excellence takes on our mental health.
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received? The worst?
The best piece of advice I received and one that I still follow is it’s all a marathon not a sprint. When I was struggling with a certain skill or I was forgetting the bigger picture, I would think back to this advice and remember that it’s not all going to change in one day. It takes time for things to develop properly. I must focus on what I can do now to continue forming better habits and to reach my goals. The worst piece of advice I received was being told volleyball players from Mississippi lack the skills to make it at the highest level. This advice was always in the back of my mind when I was being recruited for college which allowed much self doubt to develop. I am happy to say that I was able to prove that was terrible advice as I started every season while at the University of Dayton, a high level mid-major school that knows how to win.
What is something you wish more people knew about you?
My commitment to educating others on climate change and ways we can all help. I am very passionate about minimizing plastic use, fast fashion trends, and protecting our Earth. I wish more people could understand their day to day choices impact our environment greatly. One of the quotes that I live by is “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not ~ The Lorax, Dr. Seuss”. I believe this quote can be applied to many situations but it perfectly describes the climate change crisis we are facing right now. I practice conservation methods by always having reusable bags for groceries, picking up trash when at the beach, rarely using straws, donating old clothes, and voicing ways that others can start using in their habits to help protect our beautiful Earth.
What do you think is the most important issue for student-athletes today?
I believe staying true to oneself is the biggest issue for student-athletes. With social media being a huge presence in our life, we see what people say about us and we see what others in our same position are accomplishing. A quote I follow is “comparison is the thief of joy”. It’s so easy to sit on social media and degrade yourself for not acting like, looking like, and accomplishing like the other athletes. However, what we see on social media is not always as it appears. We don’t know the issues that each other are facing. In my opinion, being our true and authentic selves is the best way to maintain the love we have for ourselves and for the game we’ve played since we were kids. If we lose sight of the reason we joined the team, we can lose sight of ourselves which in my experience can lead to mental health issues.
