ST. GEORGE — Alex Peterson loves playing volleyball.

He used to drive back and forth from St. George to Las Vegas three times a week so he could play with the best competition.

He has been known to drive to Southern California for a practice, come back home on the same day, and immediately go to work at another practice.

All of that hard work and passion led to a shining moment July 17 when in front of a gym full of friends, teammates and family, Peterson signed a letter of intent to continue his volleyball career at the University of Charleston in West Virginia.

“I’ve come a long way. I started playing five, six years ago,” Peterson told St. George News at the signing ceremony held at Reach Higher Athletics.

“I was a short kid. Nobody really believed in me, I’m going to be honest,” he added. “I played for so many different teams and every single one of them has taught me something.”

Peterson vividly recalls the 50 hours per week he spent driving so he could learn the sport and hone his skills against top players.

“School nights, I’d get back from practices and just go to the gym,” he said. “I was just doing anything to play. All I wanted to do was play.”

Peterson spent the most of his quality playing time with 435 Elite, a local club volleyball team.

“It’s big for our environment because there’s not many boys going out of St. George,” 435 Elite coach Tulao Moeai said, adding that Peterson is the first 435 Elite boys player to move on to play in college.

“So to see Alex grow in the sport and be able to represent St. George is big in our books,” Moeai added. “It was pleasure to be a coach and have a hand in that for him.”

Moeai said he looks for a certain characteristic in players, and he saw it in Peterson.

“I’m not really big on skillset-wise. I’m big on character and he had what it takes,” Moeai said. “Hard worker.”

Peterson, listed as a 6-foot-4 setter, shined in the first year of UHSAA sanctioned boys volleyball this past season at Crimson Cliffs High School. He lead the Mustangs to a share of the Region 9 championship.

The other co-Region 9 champ, Pine View, went on to stun Orem in the 4A state championship.

“Having a team from St. George win state is going to be huge for us,” Peterson said. “Everyone up north doubted us from St. George and having Pine View win is huge for the sport down here.”

The turnout of support at Reach Higher during the signing ceremony was overwhelming for Peterson.

“I could not do it alone,” Peterson said. “I’m surprised how many people showed up. Some of them are from five years ago. Some people I met last week playing across the net on the same team. It brought tears to my eyes.”

“I didn’t think there was that much support,” he added. “But this sport is a family, and I hope that continues.”

The University of Charleston competes in the NCAA Division II Mountain East Conference. The Golden Eagles finished 13-16 overall last season including a 3-7 mark in MEC games.

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