MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – Alivia Torres spent her formative years playing volleyball, which took her all over the East Coast for tournaments. Volleyball was something that she lived as much as played. But, in 2021, as she was about to attend SUNY Orange, she was ready to put it all behind her. During her first two years at SUNY Orange, Torres, the 2024 Mid-Hudson Conference MVP and two-time all-conference performer for the Colts did just that, setting her sights on her community.

Getting Support to Give Support

After graduating from Pine Bush High School in 2021, Torres followed in the footsteps of her mother, who attended SUNY Orange when Alivia was young, and arrived on campus with a dream of becoming a nurse. “I always knew I wanted to be a nurse. My mom graduated from the nursing program here when I was young and seeing her accomplish what she did inspired me.”

Torres’ horizons go far beyond the edges of Orange County. She plans to become a traveling nurse, going where she is needed, when she is needed, anywhere in the world to meet the needs of communities near and far.

“Middletown is nice and I’m so happy to call it home, but there's so much in the world to see. I want to go to Africa, Greece and all these places and help other people” says Torres, “It’s really important to put back into the community what I’ve learned. With how many people have helped me to get where I am, I think it’s important to help people get to where they need to be.”

The Call to Compete

Currently a student in SUNY Orange’s pre-nursing program, Torres spent her first two years studying and taking the classes she needed to make her dream a reality. But in 2023 a phone call to her mother offered a familiar opportunity, proving that sometimes your passions will come to find you when you least expect. 

“I didn’t play volleyball for my first two years at SUNY Orange, I was just ready to move on from it. Before the 2023 season, my mom got a phone call from Daryl Williams (sports information officer). He knew that I played volleyball but wasn’t playing for SUNY Orange.” says Torres, “He said that the team had an opening and that I’d be a great fit, so I joined!”

To call her a “great fit” would be an understatement. 

As the libero for both the 2023 and 2044 seasons her impact was felt immediately. Torres did not miss a single match, appearing in 40/40 matches and played in 150 sets where she was responsible for 154 points. She finished second All-Time in digs with 633 and fourth All-Time in Service Aces with 106. Alivia finished her career earning the sportsmanship award for NJCAA Region XV in 2023 and was named Mid-Hudson Conference Co-MVP in 2024. 

Being a student-athlete is an experience that is equal parts challenging and rewarding. Knowing the support systems and resources available to students is something that Torres knew would be key to coming out on top. 

“It’s hard, but when you have a support system like I do, it makes things much easier. My coach, Jeanette Convery, was that for me. She helped me navigate the experience of being a student-athlete by pushing me to trust myself and keep going.”

Like every great athlete, Torres doesn’t stop when she leaves the gym. Her competitive edge is key to her success on the court and in class.

“I’m really competitive, it fuels me every day and keeps me on my toes.” says Torres, “ It also keeps me good in school, I am always competing with myself to do better.”

The Community College Experience

When people think of coming to a community college, one misconception is that they are “settling” or perhaps even “taking the easy road” for education. Ask Torres and she’ll reinforce that this couldn’t be farther from the truth, and her experience is a testament to this. 

“When I first came here, I did want to go away to a four-year school, get a roommate, the whole deal,” she says, “But going to this school truly teaches you the foundations of being a college student because it is SO different from high school.” 

Not only can students who come to SUNY Orange save up to $95,000 compared to a private four-year college or university over their two years, but in the community college environment a bridge is provided from the high school setting to the independence and accountability that comes with being a college student. 

“In high school, I got great grades and didn’t have to study too hard, but in college it’s a whole different story. Here, they teach you how to study well, not just what to study, and give you the resources to get there.”

When talking to Torres, it is clear that SUNY Orange is more than just a stepping stone for her. The resources that are offered to students here truly helped her find her identity as a student and get through even the most difficult semesters. 

“I love SUNY Orange. If I went straight to a four-year, I don’t think I’d be the student I am today.” she says, “I mean I took chemistry, trigonometry, statistics, and algebra all in one semester. I am pretty sure I wouldn’t have been able to survive that without the help of the Math Lab, Wellness Center and all the resources SUNY Orange offers its students.”

After graduating this May, Torres will enter the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, an accelerated 16-month nursing program, at Felician University in New Jersey with a long-term goal of becoming a nurse anesthetist.