Alisha Childress

Personal: Childress is a member of Athletes Unlimited Volleyball's Player Executive Committee. She is married to former Stanford men’s basketball standout Josh Childress and is a proud parent of three children. Athletics run in her family, with her mother, Laurie, having been her high school volleyball coach, and her grandfather, Larry, serving as her high school basketball coach. Childress majored in kinesiology with a minor in human development and family studies at Penn State. Outside of volleyball, she aspires to be a psychologist. As a child, she participated in various sports, including basketball, soccer, and softball. Additionally, she was involved in dance and sang in a choir. Her choice of jersey number, No. 6, is a nod to her collegiate days at Penn State. Childress credits notable figures such as Karch Kiraly, Marv Dunphy, and Salima Rockwell as individuals who have made a significant difference in her life.

2023 Season: Childress accumulated 1,979 leaderboard points during the second Athletes Unlimited Volleyball season. She appeared in 41 sets over 15 matches and ranked third in the league with 433 assists. Childress registered 20 or more assists in 11-of-15 outings, including nine efforts with at least 30 assists. She tied for the league lead with six matches with 40 or more assists and recorded four double-double performances. Childress opened the season with four consecutive matches with 40 or more assists, establishing a new Athletes Unlimited Volleyball record. She posted a career-high 43 assists against Team Nootsara on October 8, and also had 42-assist efforts against Team Edmond and Team Valentin-Anderson in Week One. Childress started Week Two by contributing 40 assists and eight digs against Team Hilley. She dished out 40 assists with 13 digs on October 29 against Team Hilley, en route to a season-high 336 leaderboard points, and ended Week Three with 29 assists and 10 digs against Team Hilley. Childress also tallied 39 assists with a season-high 14 digs in the Week Two finale against Team Linnehan. She authored eight matches with 100 or more leaderboard points, including two matches with 200 or more points, and participated in the Athletes Unlimited Volleyball Exhibition Tour.

2022 Season: Throughout her debut Athletes Unlimited season, Childress participated in all 15 matches, displaying her skills over 39 sets. Her contribution to her team was evident as she amassed a total of 2,293 leaderboard points. She earned recognition as the third-highest in the league with 374 assists. Her adeptness in setting was demonstrated as she achieved 30 or more assists in a match on eight occasions. A highlight was her season-best performance of 39 assists against Team De La Cruz on March 25. Notably, she achieved three double-double performances, the first of which was recorded on March 30 in the Week Three opener against Team Drews, boasting 34 assists and 12 digs. In the Week Four finale against Team Drews on April 9, she set her season high with 15 digs in addition to contributing 33 assists. Her season concluded on a strong note with 35 assists and 10 digs against Team Valentin-Anderson in a golden set victory. She achieved her highest leaderboard points of the season with 264 points each on April 6 against Team Sheilla and on April 9 against Team Drews. Childress achieved a total of 200 or more leaderboard points on four occasions.

Other Professional Experience: Childress's professional experience extends across various countries, including Brazil, Puerto Rico, Poland, Italy, and Turkey, where she has showcased her skills as a Setter. She competed for the Vegas Thrill with fellow AU Pro Volleyball athlete Molly McCage during the Pro Volleyball Federation’s inaugural season in 2024. She ranked second in the circuit by posting 956 assists over 92 sets. She also contributed 256 digs and 40 total blocks.

International Experience: Childress represented Team USA from 2010 to 2016, contributing to the team's success. Her accomplishments include helping the United States win a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics, where she was named the tournament's Best Setter. She also received the honor of Best Setter at the 2016 NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament. Her international journey included participation in the FIVB World Grand Prix in 2012 and 2016. Childress's contributions were recognized with two-time USA Volleyball Indoor Athlete of the Year selections in 2013 and 2014. She earned gold medals in three consecutive FIVB World Grand Prix Finals from 2010 to 2012. Additionally, she served as an assistant coach with the gold medal-winning U.S. National Team at the 2018 Pan American Cup, where she worked alongside former Athletes Unlimited Volleyball player and current Director of Sport Cassidy Lichtman.

At Penn State: Childress was a standout Setter for the Penn State Nittany Lions. She earned three-time All-America, All-Region, and First-Team All-Big Ten selections, playing a pivotal role in leading Penn State to three consecutive NCAA championships. Her contributions extended to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team, where she received recognition as a sophomore, junior, and senior. Childress also claimed a pair of NCAA Regional All-Tournament commendations. Her outstanding college career earned her a nomination for the 2009 Honda Award. Her impressive stats include ranking fourth in school history with 5,800 career assists, along with 398 kills, 926 digs, and 454 blocks. She holds the school's three-set single-match record with 48 assists and authored 1,452 assists as a senior in 2009, the second-highest total on the Nittany Lions' 25-point rally-scoring single-season list. Her sophomore season saw her tally 1,484 assists, finishing tied for third on the school's 30-point rally-scoring single-season list.