Alper was an All-City first team basketball selection in 1946 at Los Angeles High School, and the Western League ‘Player of the Year’. He played for John Wooden at UCLA from 1948-1951 and was a three-year starting guard. The 6-5 Alper turned to volleyball full-time after basketball his success. He started learning the game on the beaches in Manhattan, then he moved indoors. The lefty became best known for volleyball, as a key member of the Hollywood ‘Y’ Stars, who won the U.S. National Open Championships from 1956 to 1959. Alper was an All-American on three of the four straight title teams. He was a starting outside hitter on U.S. National teams from 1955-1959. The 1955 team finished 4th at the World Championships in Paris. The USA 1959 team won Pan Am Games Gold Medal in Chicago over Brazil. His teammates included SoCal Indoor VB Hall of Famers Mike O’Hara, Rolf Engen, Gene Selznick, and Bill Olsson. In 2009, he received the USA Volleyball ‘All-Time Great Player’ Award for his tremendous indoor career. He passed away on April 24, 2025, at the age of 96.