Tess Van Grouw plays in a spot on the volleyball court that does not normally get much acclaim, as she spends her time in the back row as a defensive specialist.
Van Grouw, as a freshman, got her chance to shine late in Saturday's big showdown with No. 3 Concordia. She was excellent throughout the match, shining in an appearance off the bench and accumulating nine digs on the night in 11 receiving opportunities.
Her presence was especially notable in the waning moments of the match, as she was consistently in the right place at the right time for the Eagles, digging up many CUI attacks that could have easily gone in for kills.Â
It was her first time experiencing the intense rivalry between these two Golden State Athletic Conference foes, but it will not be her last, and the hope is that she will have many matches just like the one she had Saturday night. She will be looked upon to continue the solid defense and passing in the years to come.