(Editor's Note:  This is the final story in a series of stories of the RUDY Award finalists.  Two winners – one male and one female – will be announced at the conclusion of the end of the R.UD.Y.S. Awards Banquet on Monday.  

R.U.D.Y.S. stands for Recognition and celebration of University of Dayton student-athletes Year-end Showcase.  It is hosted by the UD Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Dayton Athletics administration for the student-athletes to recognize individuals and teams for their accomplishments this past year.
 
These stories were written by students in Dr. Haozho Pu's HS 353 Sports Media class.)

Written by Joseph Melto Quiah, Hannah Kale, Antonina Fedyk

In the heart of Cedar Falls, a determined and talented student-athlete shines brightly, embodying the essence of dedication and passion. Meet Alayna Yates, a senior majoring in Communication at the University of Dayton, whose journey is nothing short of remarkable.

Alayna's academic prowess is as impressive as her athletic achievements. With a stellar 3.97 GPA in Communication (Journalism) and a Master's degree in Communication on the horizon, she is a shining example of academic excellence. But Alayna's journey is not just about grades; it's about resilience and determination.

As a middle blocker on the volleyball team, Alayna has excelled both on and off the court. Her leadership roles as the SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) A-10 representative and SAAC Admin Chair showcase her commitment to making a difference in the athletic community. But Alayna's involvement goes beyond sports; she is also a talented writer for UD Magazine and curates a monthly Alumni Newsletter for UDVB alumni.

Despite the demands of being a student-athlete, Alayna finds solace in her hobbies of listening to music, going to movies, and spending time with friends. These moments of joy and relaxation fuel her drive to excel in all aspects of her life.

Q: What does being a Flyer mean to you?
A" Alayna Yates proudly speaks about how special the community is here in Dayton. She has an amazing, supportive community amongst the volleyball team, and appreciates how much she and her teammates care about each other. Being a Flyers to Alayna Yates means "being a great teammate and a great friend and enjoying what we do here because it is pretty special to be a Flyer". 

Q: What is one of the most influential moments in your athletic career?
A: Alayna states her favorite moment, "This last season was probably our best season that I've had here. We won the A-10 tournament after we lost the year prior. That was just a cool experience to get redemption after that loss." 

Q: Balancing sports and academics can be challenging. How do you organize your time effectively to ensure success in both areas?
A: Alayna states that being a student-athlete can be challenging at times and notes that "you feel like there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done". Despite the struggle, Yates recognizes her coaches as great resources that help manage the athlete's workload. Alayna states that the hardest part for her is "setting aside the time and trying to stay as strict to that as possible.  

Q:How has being a student-athlete contributed to your personal growth and development?
A: Alayna has been a student-athlete for a good portion of her life as she has been playing volleyball since she was 12 years old. Before her college career, Yates states "I had to manage my schoolwork through my club sports too, and so I kind of already had a taste of that when I was younger, before college". 

Q: What are your future goals and aspirations after graduating from UD?
A: Despite the many assumptions about Alayna's future career in the world of sports, Yates claims that she prefers a journalism career in movies and entertainment.  She says, "That's something that many people know about (me) because so much of a student athlete's identity is their sport."

PREVIOUS STORIES
Casey Bogues -- Track & Field
Destiny Bohanon -- Basketball
Connor Bruce -- Tennis 
Abby Carter -- Cross Country/Track & Field
Alicia Donley -- Soccer
Calan Gizelbach -- Cross Country
Elizabeth Hamilton -- Tennis
DaRon Holmes II -- Basketball 
Adam Jones --- Cross Country
Joe Lansing -- Football 
Annika Roush -- Rowing 
Lauren Santiago -- Track & Field
Emma Schutter -- Softball 
Nick Wissman -- Baseball