This is the inaugural season for SPIRE Academy’s Women’s Volleyball program. Typically, there’s not a lot expected in these situations, from the program or the players. Don’t tell that to Coach Nia Grant. “I’m a tough coach,” says Grant. “I’m looking for kids who are hungry, kids who want to get better from day one. That’s the mentality you have to have, however new or old the program is.”

When it comes to having the proper mentality, Grant knows of what she speaks. An Ohio native, her standout playing in high school volleyball propelled her onto the roster at Pennsylvania State University, where she helped the volleyball team secure two NCAA Championships. After college, it was successful stints playing in Thailand, France, Germany, Poland and Italy’s elite volleyball leagues. Having to play the sport she loved so far from home, in countries where she didn’t know the language or the culture, meant learning how to bond quickly with new teammates and make something happen. It’s a skill she’s applying to her duties at SPIRE. 

“These student athletes are learning and developing together, in real-time,” she says. “They didn’t know each other. They didn’t have the luxury of training together before the school year. Watching them bond on the fly and get to work is a joy. I’m impressed with what I see.” 

One of the resources Coach Grant is relying on to help her student athletes get quickly up to speed without pushing them too far is SPIRE’s Director of Mindset Development, Zac Bruback. Bruback focuses on mental skills development, making him the perfect person to help make sure her young volleyballers stay on track as they ramp up athletically and academically. Again, Grant: “There’s a lot going on for these kids, not just sports but school, as well. The way the schedule is set up, balancing these two priorities, there’s a lot of intensity. They’re being held accountable for their performance on and off the court. It’s helping them prepare for college, of course, but they need help along the way. SPIRE provides that help in so many ways.

After the end of this year’s high school volleyball season, there will be a club season, and then Grant will be planning for the next high school season, building out the program as well as working to attract even more global talent. This last season, she recruited two players from Spain, Mar Dura and Miriam Bautista, further solidifying SPIRE as a melting pot of culture and elite athletic talent.

And finally, college. College, no doubt, is where the minds of many of Grant’s student athletes are, the next logical step for them, and she’s making sure she caters to that critical need, too. “We recently visited Penn State to give them a taste of what lies ahead,” says Grant. “I’m excited about SPIRE’s potential in the world of volleyball. I hope the community is open to new ideas and innovations, because I have plenty.”