Gracie Griffin: Brown University - Volleyball

Riverdale Review: How long have you been playing your sport?  

Gracie Griffin: Since 6th grade. 

RR: What’s your favorite thing about your sport? Favorite memory? 

GG: My favorite thing about my sport is that it’s very social. To win you have to communicate well, and in turn I think I’ve become a really good communicator. You play the sport for other people, and it’s one of my favorite things that you win for others, not just yourself. My favorite memory was when we played on the Fourth of July. It was around 10 pm and a crossover match, and after we won, we got to watch the fireworks together. It was at nationals in Chicago. 

RR: Who has been your greatest inspiration or role model during your athletic career? 

GG: The girls who were always older and better than me were my role models. All the girls at my club who were always kind and never didn’t want to engage because they were more experienced.

RR: What are you most looking forward to about continuing your athletic career at Brown? 

GG: Meeting girls who share my academic curiosity and passion for volleyball. It’ll be really fun to play with people who I can learn from off the court as well. The academic piece is kind of missing from most of the teams I’m on now, so I’m excited to better myself academically with the people around me. 

RR: Were there ever moments when you doubted yourself and your athletic talent? If so, what did or do you do to get past those doubts? 

GG: When I was 14, I was on the second team at my club and I was really discouraged because they told me that I was on the cusp of making the 1’s team and I was really disappointed. But I told myself if I focused on one skill, which I chose passing, I could bring myself up and make any team I set my mind on. I never tell myself no.