Grace Abrahams '20 Recruiting Profile

I currently attend The Dalton School, a progressive, academically-rigorous, private school in New York City.   During summer and holiday breaks in Southern California, I’m grateful to get as many volleyball reps as humanly possible with Troy Tanner at T Street or Kevin Hodge at WAVE Volleyball club, both of whom will continue to mentor me as I steadily build myself into the best, technical player possible.

My commute to Brooklyn Elite Volleyball club (BEV) for practice 3-4x a week takes over an hour from the top of Manhattan, then out to Brooklyn. Like most New Yorkers, I've developed the time-management skills, resilience, and strong work ethic to study and get my work done anywhere and any time, even on a crowded subway.  As I prepare to turn the page on High School and begin a new chapter as a College student-athlete,  I'm excited by the prospect of world-class volleyball coaching and playing experience, coupled with unparalleled academic excellence.  Being a student-athlete at a top-ranked school will mean the two things I love the most, exceptional academic professors and dedicated women's volleyball coaches, will no longer be miles apart, or mutually exclusive.  

I like the person this sport is molding me into because it aligns with my core purpose and world view.  On and off the court I consistently try to put in the hard work, defend others and set them up for success, enjoy the little victories, learn from failure’s lessons, be humble, listen first, and always have fun.  Off the court, I write songs on my guitar and piano as well as perform with Dalton's Sweet 'N’ Low a cappella group.  I'm a peer tutor, volunteer ESL tutor, Dalton tour guide, and active in The Red Cross Club and TedTalks Club.  I served as Sophomore Class President.  I also interned under Dr. Edmund Au in the Columbia University Neuroscience lab. 

What sets me apart from other Libero/D.S recruits are my demonstrated leadership skills,  passionate interest in sports psychology to better support my teammates, and the scrappy grit it takes to keep every ball off the ground so that others can win the point. If entrusted with the honor and privilege to play on your team,  I can promise you two things: I will never stop trying to be the best version of myself and to be the hardest-working, best-qualified player for the position.