Grace Melnick '21 Recruiting Profile

I hope you all are keeping safe during this volitile time and hope one day soon we will be back on court playing the game we love.  Until then, stay safe.  

I'm a 6'1" middle for 17U Defensa Volleyball Club out of Burlington, Ont Canada and starting left side/ right side for my high school, AN Myer in Niagara Falls.  

I was also the starting middle for Team Ontario Red 2019 who competed in National Championships Canada Cup in Halifax, Nova Scotia; we won a silver medal.

I'm also a member of Team Ontario Beach 18U as an underage athlete.  This past summer my partner and I came 9th at the Canadian National Championships.  I will also be travelling to Spain for March break to train and compete with the full time training group.  I'm extremely honoured to be travelling and training with the full time group in order to continue to grow and develop as an athlete. 

As a volleyball player, I have a strong commitment to any team that I play for. I'm a good communicator on and off the court and will always support my teammates. On the court, my teammates can count on me to work extremely hard and do the best I can to ensure that I am up and available for my setters as well set a solid block for our defense.  I love to pass and play defense when I do get the opportunity.  This is one of the reasons why I love beach so much.  I get to touch the ball so often with all skills.  I am a very aggressive offensive player. I love to hit the ball extremely hard that is why I would love to ultimately move to an outside hitter.  I feel my heavy arm swing paired with my ability to manipulate the ball as a beach player would be a wonderful asset to any team.    

This past summer (2019) I was one of four athletes selected to represent Ontario for both beach and indoor.  It required me to be organized, healthy both mentally and physically.  I did have an ankle injury during Team Ontario indoor training camp however I did not allow that to impact our success as a team or as an athlete.  I'm tough and will do what it takes to ensure my teams success, whatever role I may have. 

December 2019 I was invited to the Canadian National Excellence Program identification camp with our Senior Women's Volleyball team coaching staff.  I'm very proud of this opportunity and experience.  Knowing I am part of the long term identification process is not only exciting, but motivates me to continue to work hard in order to be a member of our senior team one day.

I have a personal trainer who is a retired Canadian Wrestler.  He does understand the importance of a high performance training and athlete’s mindset.  Matrixx, Iron Performance out of St Catharines, Ont has been amazing to work with.

Not only am I the starting left side for my high school, I also play ultimate Frisbee and a member of track and field as a high jumper and javelin.