Alexandra Pullishy: Once a Wolf, Always a Wolf

If you know volleyball, you know it’s a game that calls for quick pivots and dynamic transitions. As assistant coach for NWP’s Wolves Women’s Volleyball team, Alexandra Pullishy has mastered those skills, on and off the court.

Alexandra’s journey with volleyball began in her hometown of Spirit River. “That was the beginning of me falling in love with the sport,” she recalls.

In grade 12, Alexandra played in NWP’s Howler Cup, drawing the attention of Wolves Athletics. While she was eager to continue playing, Alex and her family also put a high priority on choosing a school with a Bachelor of Education program. Luckily, Northwestern Polytechnic offered both.

“When all the pieces fell together for the team and the education, I felt like this was it,” Alexandra says. The move to Grande Prairie was also smooth. “The transition was fairly lovely. I had people in my corner immediately… it was easier than I expected,” she adds. 

That was the jumping-off point for Alexandra’s impressive four-year career as a Wolves student-athlete. Her accomplishments include the Arthur Dunn Memorial Volleyball award, two nods for Teammate of the Year, two Academic Excellence awards, and three Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Scholar awards.

But it wasn’t just the awards that made those years memorable. “In my first year as part of the volleyball program, attending provincials was huge,” she says. Building community on campus was equally memorable. 

“Establishing the really cool connections, not just on my team, but with other athletic programs, different classes, professors, the community – I loved establishing those relationships,” she shares.

The pandemic brought its own challenges, making her return to the court even more meaningful. “After COVID, coming back to the sport was such a gift after having it taken away… To come back was really special and at that time, I became captain for the last two years,” she says.

But the biggest change came in 2023, when Alexandra graduated with her Bachelor of Education and faced the end of her playing career. 

“At the end of my athletic career, I was very devastated that sport was done for me. I felt I had lost my identity,” Alex acknowledges. “I was looking for different pathways to stay involved.” An opportunity from her coach would soon open a new door.

“My coach, Lauren Hale-Miller, got me in touch with CCAA’s Female Apprentice Coach Program. She said, why don’t you think about going through this program and coming back as an assistant coach?” Alexandra explains. “That’s what really opened the door. I loved it… I was very grateful for the opportunity.”

Today, Coach Pullishy is entering her fourth year as assistant coach. Alongside coaching, she has built a career in education and now teaches physical education at Peace Wapiti Academy. Alexandra also earned two Master of Education degrees from St. Francis Xavier University, one in Educational Administration and Policy and another in Curriculum and Instruction.

Through all that change, Alex’s values remain the same. “Once a Wolf, always a Wolf. I believe it to my very core,” she says. Alexandra shares head coach Sam Tu’ivai’s philosophy that they’re helping shape better humans, not just better players. She has a strong sense of pride as she watches the team problem-solve, adapt and improve.

“I try to communicate with them the positive impact they’re having… and remind them to make memories,” Alexandra says of her team. “They will always have a home here.”