ODU Volleyball Alumni Conway, Sgherza Continue Winning Ways In Europe

NORFOLK, Va. – They helped build the foundation of Old Dominion volleyball and left Norfolk as two of the most decorated players in program history. Now, alumni Alessia Sgherza and Myah Conway are winning championships on the professional stage in Europe.

Sgherza, an outside hitter from Massa, Italy, played at ODU from 2019-21 and was a two-time All-Conference USA Second Team selection. After leading the Monarchs with 220 kills in the team’s inaugural season during the spring of 2021, she finished second with 218 kills during the fall 2021 season. In the record book, she sits in fourth place in career kills with 438 and is fifth in career points with 499.5.

Since graduating from ODU, she has played professionally in her home country for several clubs, including Volley Garlasco (2021-22), Img Nottolini Capannori (2022-2024), and Banca Annia Aduna (2024-2026).

Back on April 4, Sgherza was part of the Banca Annia Aduna squad that won the Serie B Italian Cup, defeating Olimpia Teodora Ravenna, 3-1. With the win, Sgherza’s team earned its promotion to Serie A3.

“This past season was definitely one of the most memorable experiences of my volleyball career,” said Sgherza. “We had a great start to the season and managed to win 22 matches in a row, which gave us a lot of confidence and momentum.”

To reach the championship match, Sgherza’s team faced Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia on April 3 in the semifinals. Down 2-1 in the match, Banca Annia Aduna kept its hopes alive with a 25-23 tally in the fourth set and claimed the deciding set, 18-16.

“They were also undefeated at that point, so it felt like a real showdown between the two best teams. We were losing two sets to one, but we came back and won in the fifth set. We were losing 14-11 and then won 18-16. That was awesome.”

“I had never played in that competition before because only the four best teams in Italy qualify for it,” continued Sgherza. “This was not only my first time taking part, but we also won the tournament! It was an incredible emotion, something I will never forget.”

“Winning the Serie B championship was amazing, but lifting the Italian Cup in my first appearance made the year even more unforgettable.”

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Conway also made her mark while at ODU. The rightside hitter from Orwigsburg, Pa. was named to the All-Conference USA Freshman Team in 2021. She then repeated as an All-Sun Belt First Team selection in 2022 and 2023 and capped off her collegiate career with an All-Sun Belt Second Team nod in 2024. She is ODU’s all-time leader in points (1,592.5), kills (1,383), and blocks (318).

On January 18, she helped Linköpings VC capture its first Swedish Grand Prix title as the team defeated Örebro VBS, 3-1 in the final. Conway contributed four blocks and three aces to the winning effort.

“Being part of the club’s first-ever Swedish Grand Prix Championship was an incredible experience and probably one of my favorite weekends in Sweden,” said Conway. “Making history with my team made the accomplishment even more special, and it was so rewarding to see all of our hard work pay off. Celebrating that moment together is something I’ll never forget!”

Both alumni credited their time at ODU in preparing them for success at the next level.

“The biggest thing I learned at ODU was the importance of taking care of the mental side of the game and of the person as a whole,” said Sgherza. “In Italy, this aspect is often overlooked, but at ODU I realized how important it really is.”

“I learned that your mindset can make a huge difference in performance. A strong mentality can help you win matches against top-level teams, while a lack of focus or confidence can cause you to lose against weaker opponents. Since my experience at ODU, I have paid much more attention to the mental aspect of volleyball, and I believe it has helped me become a better and more complete player.”

“My time at Old Dominion played a huge role in preparing me for my professional career by helping e grow as both an athlete and a person,” added Conway. “I was able to develop in every aspect of my game while learning the importance of consistency, discipline, and performing under pressure. My coaches also did a great job of preparing me for the faster pace of the professional game, which made the transition much smoother.”

Sgherza studied exercise science while at ODU and will soon begin her next chapter as a strength and conditioning coach in Italy. While always passionate about strength training, she was introduced to a more functional approach to weightlifting and conditioning while at ODU.

“I want to help young athletes understand how important weight training is, not only for improving performance, but also for preventing injuries,” said Sgherza. “ODU gave me knowledge and practical experience that I still use every day in my professional career.”

For Conway, she is continuing to play professionally and has signed with Swiss League club Volley Düdingen for the 2026-27 season.

“I would definitely encourage other Monarchs who are thinking about playing professionally! My biggest piece of advice would be to step outside of your comfort zone because it is absolutely worth it. Not only will you get to experience a new style of volleyball and continue growing as a player, but you’ll also have the opportunity to live in a new country, experience different cultures, and meet people from all over the world. It’s an experience that not many people get to have so take advantage while you can!”