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Grandfather Plays an Important Role in Crimes' Career
by Mario Burciaga, Daily 49er.com
November 7, 2006
Luckily, Etiwanda High School didn't have a quality basketball program
or else the Long Beach State women's volleyball team might be without
its star middle blocker.
Alexis Crimes was a three-sport star in high school. She was the MVP of
the track team and was also named first-team all-league in basketball,
but despite the success, it was volleyball that mostly interested Crimes.
As a walk-on for the EHS volleyball team, Crimes was named Volleyball
Magazine's "Fab 50" and a Top-10 Player in the Inland Empire,
according to the San Bernardino Sun.
"I was offered basketball and volleyball scholarships to Long Beach,
USC, UCLA, Florida State, Notre Dame and other big name schools,"
Crimes said. "I chose Long Beach State because the coaches were confident
in what I could become."
Now, Crimes is a first team All-Big West selection, AVCA All-American
and leads the Big West in kills per game, blocks per game and attack percentage.
Also, Crimes ranks 11th in the LBSU stat book with 1,099 career kills.
In volleyball, the 6-foot-3-inch junior has become a success. But it didn't
come easy.
Crimes was born in Hawaii while her mother, Elizabeth Morris was enlisted
in the military. She never met her father and only one month after birth,
Crimes was sent to live with her grandparents in Sylmar.
Crimes said her grandfather, Fred Crimes Jr. raised her as if he was her
father.
"My grandpa is a cool grandpa, he probably doesn't know it but he
is. He always kept me active in sports," Crimes said. "Growing
up, he put me in all kinds of sports, even karate and cheerleading."
When it came to her early years in high school, Fred would drive Crimes
to and from school every day. In 1994, when Crimes was 9-years-old, Morris'
military career ended temporarily reuniting the family.
That same year, Crimes' grandmother died. Soon after, Crimes and her mother
moved to Rancho Cucamonga but Fred still had a strong relationship with
his granddaughter.
Once Crimes started playing volleyball in high school, her coaches told
her about the opportunities in the sport. She got interested and soon
joined the Santa Monica Beach Club.
The problem - getting to practice.
"I didn't have a car and mother was at work most of time, so my grandpa
would drive me to practice," Crimes said.
While with SMBC, Fred drove Crimes to every practice. Fred drove from
his home in Lancaster to Crimes' in Rancho Cucamonga and then to Santa
Monica for practice. The drive became routine, three to four times a week
for two years.
"The reason why I do sports is because of my grandpa," Crimes
said. "I don't consider what my grandpa did as a sacrifice, but willingness."
Crimes is majoring in criminal justice because becoming a cop is only
a backup plan, she said.
"I kind of want to be a detective, but I'm too tall. I am easily
detected," Crimes said. "My goal is to be in the 2008 Olympics
and to play volleyball overseas for a club in Italy of Brazil. I have
a lot of respect for those teams, and now I just want to stay focuses.
I want to be the best middle blocker at Long Beach State, outside Long
Beach State and overseas."
For now, Crimes is among the best in LBSU history. With Crime's grandfather
in attendance of every home LBSU game, she is motivated.
"He is at every game and I feel so good when people go up to him
and ask him about me," Crimes said. "It is my obligation to
put in the same effort in here as he did in taking me to practice those
days. He is definitely motivational.
"I love to see a smile in his face. I call him everyday and thank
him for everything. Because of my grandpa, I am where I am today."
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