LELAND -- Former multi-sport standout Alisha Glass Childress will be inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame.
The Leland native is one of 12 honorees selected for the 2026 induction class being recognized at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Salt Lake City.
Childress was a dominant figure in both volleyball and basketball during her time at Leland High School in the mid-2000s. Her induction marks a celebration of a career that transitioned from record-breaking high school performances to three NCAA titles and an Olympic bronze medal.
Mark Uyl, executive director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, said her accomplishments place her at the top of the state’s athletic history.
“It’s a strong argument that Alisha Glass continues to set the bar as not only our state’s best female athlete all-time, but arguably the most accomplished volleyball player in national high school history,” Uyl said.
During her volleyball career at Leland High School, Childress played for her mother, Laurie Glass, who is one of the winningest coaches in Michigan history. Childress established national career records that still stand today, including 3,584 kills and 937 aces. She also set a national season record of 296 aces during her junior year. Her 680 career blocks, which were a national record at the time, currently rank second in the all-time national record books.
In Michigan, Childress holds four MHSAA records and appears in the state’s record book 19 times. This includes a record of 48 kills in the 2006 Class D State Volleyball Championship. As a senior, she was named Miss Volleyball and the Gatorade Player of the Year for Michigan. While volleyball was her primary sport, she was also an all-state basketball player as a junior and senior. During her final high school season, she averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game.
Childress continued her athletic career at Penn State University, where she was a four-year starter and led the team to three consecutive NCAA championships. During her tenure, the Nittany Lions achieved a combined record of 110-2. She was a two-time AVCA All-America first team selection and finished her collegiate career ranked fourth in program history with 5,800 assists and 12.47 assists per set.
At the international level, Childress represented the United States at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. She led the team to a bronze medal and earned the title of best setter in the tournament. Her professional career included stints in Puerto Rico, Italy, Turkey, Poland, and Brazil. Most recently, she played for the Vegas Thrill in the Pro Volleyball Federation in 2024 and 2025, appearing in the league’s first all-star match.
Childress currently serves as the coach for the San Diego Mojo of Major League Volleyball. Before this role, she spent time as an assistant coach at Stanford University from 2019 to 2021 and was on the staff during the team’s 2019 NCAA championship. Vicky Groat, a volleyball coach at St. Philip High School in Michigan, highlighted the athlete’s efforts beyond the court. “Just as meaningful as her athletic achievements is Alisha’s continued commitment to the volleyball community,” Groat said. “She has remained deeply connected to her hometown of Leland and to youth volleyball in Michigan. Whether leading camps, speaking to high school athletes, mentoring young setters, or emphasizing the importance of leadership and character, Alisha has consistently used her platform to inspire the next generation—not just to become better volleyball players, but to become better teammates, leaders, and people.”
The 43rd induction ceremony will take place on June 29th in Salt Lake City, Utah.