BIDDEFORD — When you watch Alanna Vose play the game she loves so much, it is apparent even to the untrained eye, the difference she brings to whatever team she is playing on. That difference is passion.

Her passion in life is basketball. Vose is a 5-foot 6-inch junior guard from Cushing.

This season, and for the two before, Vose has been earning her playing time for the University of New England Nor'easters’ women's basketball team. For four years before she began her college journey, she wowed the fans and opponents of the Medomak Valley High School Panthers, located in Waldoboro.

When you talk with Vose, or just watch her play, you can see it in her eyes — and her body language. She is on fire the entire game, constantly watching, talking and encouraging, and you rarely see a smile until the game is over — and then only if the team did well and she played her game.

Her career stats going into this season were 58 games played and 397 points scored, averaging 6.8 per game with 122 rebounds, 102 assists, 54 steals and six blocked shots. Compare that to this season’s early stats, and you see a young lady that has gained the confidence to know she can play at this level and play well.

“I have found that this year I am playing with a lot more confidence than I had my freshmen and sophomore years,” said Vose. “I also know I have a lot of positive energy so I use that as fuel to get myself and my teammates going. When someone else does something good, they are gonna hear it from me and if I do something well it gets me going. I am constantly talking to myself in my head and pumping myself up, which I really think keeps me going.”

This season, Vose has played in seven games totally 192 minutes (27.4 per game). She has hit 33-of-76 field goal attempts (43 percent), is 21-of-52 (40 percent) from behind the arc and 14-of-16 (88 percent) from the foul line. She is averaging 14.4 points per game. She has pulled down 26 rebounds (3.7), had 21 assists (3.0), 10 steals (1.4) and two blocks while only turning the ball over 18 times (2.6 per game).

Last season, Vose was one of four players to see action in all 30 games and was third on the team in points per game (8.4). She finished second on the squad in three-point percentage (.324) and free throw percentage (.788), and third in assists (64). Vose scored in the double digits 12 times, including a career-best 22 points in 22 minutes versus Gordon. In that game, she was 6-for-9 from beyond the arc.

She played a pivotal role in Big Blue's Commonwealth Coast Conference championship game win over Roger Williams, coming off the bench to knock down three triples and finish with 11 points. She had 10 points in the opening round of the NCAA Championship versus New York University.

In Vose’s freshmen year, she hit the court for 28 of the team's 30 games, drawing five starting assignments, was the fifth-leading scorer, averaging 5.2 points a contest, and played a critical role in the Nor'easters’ CCC championship game victory over Salve Regina when she came off the bench to pour in 13 points in just 15 minutes of playing time. She was 3-for-3 from downtown in an 11-point effort versus Western New England, and scored a season high 14 points in a victory over Nichols.

At Medomak Valley, she played four sports, was All-KVAC selection in basketball three times and all-rookie team as a freshman. Vose was a McDonald's All-Star and semifinalist for Miss Maine Basketball as a senior, in addition to being Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Player of the Year. She was twice an all-conference performer in soccer, and one time all-KVAC in track and field.

Vose has been playing basketball for a long time, working her way up to being the main focus, the star player on her high school team.

“I have been playing basketball ever since I could walk, so I have been told,” said Vose. “Starting in kindergarten, I participated in clinics at the Rockland Rec. Meanwhile my mother was a pee wee coach up until I was in third-grade, so I would always be running around at her practices. I played on the Rockland Rec pee wee team in third-grade then switched to Warren Rec pee wee‚ until sixth-grade. In the sixth-grade, Medomak Valley varsity coach Randy Hooper told my mother he had his eye on me and that she better not move me out of the district. I played for D.R. Gaul in middle school. The end of my eighth-grade year, I was asked to attend Gold Rush Basketball camp with the Medomak varsity team. Being a little eighth-grader and not knowing anyone it was terrifying, but I was honored with making the all-star team that year at the camp. Freshmen through senior year I was on the Medomak varsity squad.”

Going from star to sub is not an easy adjustment for anyone, and Vose was no different. She struggled a little in her first two years, compared to what she accomplished in high school. However, Vose and her coach both knew she had more to offer the team.

“Going to a really good Division III team from high school was definitely a lot different, but both myself and my coach knew that the way I played my freshmen and sophomore years wasn't what I was really capable of doing,” said Vose. “I had a meeting with my coach at the end of last season and told him that I hadn't even come close to playing like I know I can play.”

Having now lived through that, Vose had some words for young women getting ready to take the next step into college basketball.

“So my advice to incoming collegiate athletes is that no matter how tough the transition is, keep on pushing,” said Vose. “It was a frustrating start for me, but I had personal goals and I never lost sight of them. I work on my game in the off season as much as I can. I worked with a trainer the summer going into my sophomore year, and I went to Costa Rica this past summer to better improve my own skills to help the team get where we want to be. You keep pushing forward to get what you want, and won't unless you work for it!”

For Vose, it is all about the goals she sets for herself. Setting goals is an important life lesson that some learn and some do not. Vose has always had personal goals and works hard to reach them. Her answer to the question “what are your most memorable moments in basketball?” showed how important personal goals are.

“There are very many memorable moments in my career,” said Vose. “But the proudest ones would be when I had achieved a goal I had set for myself. In middle school, my goal was to make varsity, after accomplishing that, it was to score 1,000 points and after that it was going to college to play. I will never forget the timeout Coach Hooper called after scoring my 1,000th point, and I will also never forget when my coach now [Anthony Ewing] came to watch me play and told me he could see me in his line up because at the time UNE was my number one school. However, nothing felt as good as winning a conference championship here at UNE and being able to cut down a net. There is nothing better than playing in a home tournament game in front of a full crowd and knowing you contributed a lot to a huge win.”

Vose said an important lessons she learned in high school was time management. It became very useful once she got to college and the difference between the commitment to basketball at the high school level and at the college level was quite stark. Practices are longer, the season is longer, you play more games, and they are more physical, which can drain the mind as well as the body. But Vose has handled it with little trouble.

“I always tell everyone who asks, that basketball is such a stress reliever, but also really helps with time management skills,” said Vose. “It’s always difficult and stressful when exam times come around, but being a three sport athlete all through high school really helps me manage my time with basketball here at UNE. There are times when studying on road games are necessary, but I don’t really have a problem managing my school work with basketball. I completed my classes this past semester with a 3.5 GPA.”

Support is always valuable to athletes and Vose has had some outstanding support over the years. People in her family have always, and continue to, support her every step of the way. While her mom and dad are divorced, there is nothing “broken” about this family.

“My family are the biggest supporters,” said Vose. “My mom coached me all the way up until middle school and then coached my AAU team along with you, Ron, until I was a senior in high school. My entire family, including my mom, step-mom, dad, step-dad, grandparents on my dads’ side, grandparents on my moms’ side, step-grandparents, aunt, brother and sister didn’t miss a game in high school, and came to every single home game at college. I couldn’t ask for a better support group.”

Vose however lost a very important part of her support group in her life when her best friend died while Alanna was still in high school. Losing your best friend when you are that young can have a devastating effect on ones life. It did for Vose, but as she has grown older she has come to terms with it a little and said she knows that he is watching over her everyday.

“In high school I had a best friend that many people know of, Dustin Osier,” said Vose. “He knew how much I loved the game of basketball and he knew how bad I wanted to play after high school. In high school he came to the gym with me every single morning my junior year and shot 100 free throws with me in addition to different shooting competitions. He pushed me in the weight room, he pushed me when I was having a bad day, he pushed me when I didn’t feel like playing. He came to my AAU games and all my all-star games growing up. He was like my own mini coach/trainer. After his death I had a really hard time loving the game as much as I did. When I played bad I just constantly wished he was there yelling at me. It took a while to realize that no matter where he was, he was always right there watching down on me. Everything I do these days is for him and I know he would be proud of me.”

Coaches have also played a big role in Vose’s life. She has had some outstanding people guiding her throughout the years in the game. While she has many fond memories, there were certain coaches that have taught her things that she is and will be forever grateful for.

“Well, number one my mom,” said Vose. “Growing up we would always be playing dribbling games down in our basement, we would work in different gyms, we would play one-on-one and I would get so mad when she would beat me. Although my dad was never a real coach [of mine], he was always coaching me from the side lines. It use to make me embarrassed and mad, but now if he’s not there and yelling I would be upset. In middle school, I had Joel Lufkin for the three sports I played. He is one of the most influential people I have ever met. His love for the game rubs off on all his players, which is why I believe we were so successful. I will never forget one of his quotes ‘good, better, best, never let it rest, until your good is better, and your better is best.’ This influences me to keep pushing because I know I have it in me. I developed an awesome relationship with my high school coach, Randy Hooper, which if you know him is really hard to do. An important thing I have learned from him is how to handle yourself when you are in an adverse situation, which not only applies to basketball, but in real life situations as well. He is another reason I am where I am today.”

Coach Randy Hooper echoed the feelings about Vose. For a coach to say what he has to say about this young lady after 30 years of coaching say’s a lot about her.

“In almost 30 years of coaching I have had the opportunity to coach both boys and girls in several sports at two different Midcoast high schools.” said Medomak Valley Varsity girls coach Randy Hooper. “I can honestly say that I have had but a handful of male or female athletes that I would classify as truly special.  Alanna is certainly one of those athletes.  When I came to Medomak in 2005 Alanna was in the sixth grade.  I could tell she was going to be an impact player for us when she got to high school.  We made it to Bangor four straight years from 2008-09 to 2011-12.  Alanna was a member of all 4 of those teams.  She was the common denominator to our success during those four years.  Alanna loves the game of basketball and has worked hard at her game in the off season and deserves each and every accolade she has received not only in her high school years, but in her collegiate career as well.  She is a tremendous three point shooter, she has worked hard at improving her defense, she can handle the ball, and she has an explosive first and second step when needed.  What truly makes Alanna special is she is even a better person off the floor.  She always stops by to give me a hug and say hello when she is home from college and I have no doubt that her success on the court will lead to her future success off the court.  It was truly a privilege to have had the opportunity to coach Alanna.”

What is in store for Vose in the future? She is not sure, but she hopes to be able to apply her education to work and wants to stay in the state. One thing she does know is she wants to be a coach and she wants to coach for all the right reasons.

“I really want to coach in the future,” said Vose. “I plan to take a coaching course here at the university, which will give me a certificate to coach from middle school through high school. I have a really strong passion for the game and I would love to rub it off on players like my coaches did for me.”

The school systems need need more coaches like that. And it is likely Vose will be a good coach someday, as good as she now is as a player. She truly does love the game, has the passion, has worked at it her entire life and so far the passion has only continued to grow as she gets older.

Vose is the daughter of Melissa Dean and Kristopher Vose. She is majoring in applied exercise science and is a member of the academic all-conference team. She participates in the Applied Exercise Science Club and has volunteered for Special Olympics.

Click here for a photo gallery from the UNE game against Bates College Jan. 3 in Lewiston.

Ron Hawkes can be reached at hawkesnews@gmail.com.