Alice Jagielska on getting ready for beach volleyball’s big stage

Alice Jagielska’s volleyball journey began at SideOut Polonia, a grassroots club that introduced her not just to the sport, but to a sense of belonging. What started as a fun team activity quickly became a passion, fuelled by community, competition and the unique demands of beach volleyball.

Inspired by elite defender Christen Nuss, she values resilience, adaptability and self-belief – lessons reinforced by a coach’s mantra: you never lose, you either win or you learn. Now studying at Pepperdine University in California – playing for the Pepperdine Waves beach volleyball club – Alice remains a powerful example of how grassroots volleyball can shape confident, ambitious athletes with global horizons.

EARLY YEARS

What was the name of your first sports club?
SideOut Polonia

GRASSROOTS

What would you say to someone thinking about trying your sport?
It’s a fun sport and it is always worth giving it a try! Playing within a team allows you to be part of a community and give you a break from school or work, for example.

HEROES

Which sportspeople do you admire now, and why?
I admire Christen Nuss and she is my favourite pro player right now. I love her defence and the way she reads the game so well. I also love the fact that she doesn’t let the fact that she is shorter than all the other players bring her down… she uses it as motivation to work harder.

TRAINING

How often do you train?
Right now around four times a week on the sand, as well as going to the gym three times a week. Best piece of advice from your coach? The fact that you never lose – you either win or you learn.

What’s the hardest part/skill in your sport to master?
I would say the hardest thing in beach volleyball is the ability to reset quickly and have a short memory after each point, especially when something goes wrong. Since there is only two people on your side of the court, you are required every point and there is no time to be dwelling on mistakes. Therefore, being able to get back in the moment quickly this is vital in my opinion.

MOTIVATION

How do you keep going mentally when things get tough?
When things get tough, for example losing by a few consecutive points in a game, I like to remind myself that I am capable of performing the skill and think about the hard work and training I have done previously. This helps me build confidence which I can then use for the following point.

NUTRITION

How does nutrition improve your performance?
I think nutrition is one of the most important things influencing performance. Fuelling yourself correctly and making sure you are eating enough protein and carbohydrates allows your body to recover and have enough energy for training and games. A big part of nutrition is also hydration. When training or playing a tournament in a hot country, it is particularly important to be drinking enough electrolytes.

FUN STUFF

Are there any sports you aren’t good at?
I used to play badminton when I was younger and was decent at that. However, then when I tried tennis, I really struggled and was never good at it. I think it’s one of the only sports I have ever struggled playing.

THE YEAR AHEAD

What are plans, aims and hopes for the year ahead?
Back in August last year (2025), I flew out to California where I will continue playing beach volleyball at Pepperdine University for the next four years. I will be aiming to be one of the five pairs completing in the conference tournament throughout the season. I hope to get physically stronger to allow my body to cope with the high volumes and intensity of training that I will experience out in America, as well as also working on my technique on the sand.