Arielle Goralski
News editor
Junior psychology major Anna Graham from Rainsville, Ala., is entering her third year as a midblocker on the Shorter volleyball team. Adding to her strong volleyball skills, Graham is also a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, an academic success mentor through the tutoring center, member of the leadership committee for the Fellowship of Christian athletes and a Shorter Orientation Staff member.
Coached under Jon Moseley and Noel Carper, who strive for well-rounded players who are successful on and off the court by enforcing academics over athletics, Graham has maintained a high GPA while attending Shorter.
With a strong highlight on academics, Graham juggles her time between her athletic and coursework devotion by planning her days with an organized schedule to allow time to be successful in all activities in which she participates. Graham and her teammates do their homework on the bus while keeping strong academic encouragement among each other.
Graham stated the bond she has with her teammates is strong.
“I have a great relationship with my teammates. Our coaches do an excellent job of recruiting players with strong backgrounds who are within the same region, so we can all relate,” said Graham.
On the court, the players focus on the fundamentals of the game at practices.
“Our coaches emphasize players practicing every skill on the court; footwork is very important,” Graham said.
With a strong Christian background, Graham remembers to remain humble while playing. After a tough practice or loss, she turns to God.
“God gave me the ability to be here, and it’s important to remember that,” said Graham.
Before every match, Graham is adamant about keeping the same warm-up routine, including listening to “You are my King,” keeping her focus on glory to God.
“I’m excited for the season,” said Graham. The team has the potential to be better than last year.”
