University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
2026 Beach Volleyball Roster
Roster
Alina Ryan
- Height:
- 5-9
- Class:
- Freshman
- High School:
- Cardinal Gibbons HS
- Hometown:
- Raleigh, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB
Was a four-year letterwinner at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, N.C., on the indoor volleyball team … was a setter her freshman year, moved to outside hitter for her sophomore and junior seasons, and was the starting libero her senior campaign … also earned one varsity letter in swimming at CGHS … her team finished 22-0 in 2024 and won the North Carolina 4A State Championship over Marvin Ridge HS, 3-1 (25-11, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24) … she recorded 43 digs in the championship match for the Crusaders, who improved to 12-1 in NCHSAA championship matches (first title since 2020) …she earned the North Carolina Farm Bureau Sportsmanship Award at state … totaled 934 digs, 504 kills, 487 assists and 143 aces in her high school career … was a two-time NCVBA 4A All-State pick and a three-time All-Conference selection … also named Conference Player of the Year … named Prep Volleyball Top 150 Freshmen … played club for Sinjin Beach Volleyball Club … placed second in 2025 AVP U18 National Championships … also placed first in 2024 and 2025 at the p1440 U18 Winter Championships … was a p1440 Fab 50 Ambassador … placed first at the 2023 U16 AAU Junior Olympics and first at the 2021 and 2022 U16 p1440 National Championship … won multiple Futures Tour Championships … invited to the Fab 50 p1440 Training Program … also won the p1440 Highest GPA Award and named a 2025 AVCA Junior Beach First-Team All-American … was a member of the USA Beach Volleyball National Team Development Program (NTDP) and the USAV Indoor High Performance Training Teams.
Notable Tournament Finishes: 2nd at 2025 AVP U18 Hermosa National Championships, 1st at 2025 p1440 U18 Winter Championships, 2nd at 2024 USA U18 Beachfest, 1st at 2025 p1440 U18 Futures Tour – Florida, 1st at 2024 p1440 U18 Winter Championships.
Full name: Alina Isabel Ryan … born in Naperville, Ill. … parents are B. Kelly Ryan and Kathleen Ryan … has an older brother, Declan, and and three older sisters, Caleigh, Teagan, and Celia … family has a huge athletic background as her father played football at Yale while her mom was on swimming team there … sister, Caleigh played volleyball at Northwestern, sister, Teagan went to National Championships in curling at Bowdoin College, sister Celia played three seasons of beach volleyball at Coastal Carolina (2023-25), and brother, Declan, played lacrosse at Boston College … has had many cousins run cross country or swim in college and her uncle, Mike, also played football at Yale, while her aunt, Molly, played basketball at Notre Dame, and another aunt, Sheila, swam for Fairfield … says she chose UCLA because, “It provides an exceptional educational opportunity alongside top tier athletic programs. Also, the coaching staff is amazing!” … lists her greatest athletic thrill as, "Winning the North Carolina 4A Indoor Volleyball state championships my senior year. It was so satisfying to see four years of hard work pay off." … lists Brock Purdy, Michael Jordan, and Kristen Nuss as the athletes she admires most … enjoys going to the beach, swimming, traveling, baking, playing board games, and spending time with friends and family in her free time … has yet to declare a major.
