Malia Graff '21 Recruiting Profile

Growing up in a volleyball family, I have always had a deep love for the sport! I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t playing volleyball.  When I look back on my path thus far, I am most thankful for my late growth spurt.  Early on, I did not always make the #1 indoor teams, as those positions often went to the taller girls.  While this was disappointing, I continued to put in the work on the teams I was on as a setter and opposite.  Spending my early years on the “2” team turned out to be a blessing.  I was able to play all the way around and develop all of my fundamentals; passing, serving, setting and hitting.  Having a well-rounded skill set led to me becoming a strong beach player from an early age.  I couldn’t wait to meet some of those “taller girls” every summer in the sand! 

As I played more and more beach, my hititng skills began to develop more rapidly than my setting skills.  This, combined with a late growth spurt, led my coach to move me from a setter/OP, to hitting OH/OP.  I am now a starting hitter on the teams I had always aimed for; playing alongside athletes I strove to be like.  I am grateful to train with some “big fish”- they challenge me and push me to become even better.  Seeing that I can compete on their level, and even beat some of those ‘big fish” gives me confidence and a hunger to see how far I can take it at the next level!