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Howland’s Grant to play pro volleyball in France
By Dan Hiner
After completing a distinguished collegiate career at Penn State, former Howland High School volleyball standout Nia Grant has turned her attention to a professional career in Europe.
Grant was selected to play on the United States Collegiate National Team and will begin playing in Nantes, France in August. She is one of 12 players on the roster, and one of four players who graduated in the past year.
“I didn’t really know that there was ‘overseas’ for sports while I was in high school. I only knew that there was a national team and more mainstream sports had American professional leagues, but I had no idea that there was life after college overseas for a volleyball player,” Grant said.
Grant has played the last four years at Penn State before graduating in last winter. The Nittany Lions won back-to-back national championship seasons in 2013 and 2014 — including defeating Brigham Young University in December.
Stacey Grant, Nia’s mother, said her daughter began talking about a potential professional career overseas during her junior season at PSU. Stacey said the opportunity for Nia to play volleyball overseas is a reward for all the years the entire family has worked while Nia was playing.
“It’s really overwhelming. With all the traveling and you never know where it’s gonna end up,” Stacey said. “Some girls quit, but she kept going. It’s amazing, it’s unreal. You pinch yourself every day because she gets paid to do something she loves.
“It makes you feel good because you sacrifice everything for your kids. It makes you feel good because you sacrifice and your kids work hard and appreciate your sacrifice — it’s just a blessing.”
Nia Grant said the first year in France will be a learning experience. She said her play over the next year could have an impact on the future of her professional career.
“Since it’s my first year, my goal is mainly to gain experience and improve my game as much as possible,” she said. “Also, since I will be playing in Europe, it’s a great opportunity to expose myself for teams for the next few years.
“Right now, I’m just looking forward to my first full season overseas in France. I hope to play as long as my body can handle it. I’m so in love with the game, currently. I can’t get enough.”
PSU is considered one of the top volleyball programs in the country. Grant said the level of competition had a lasting impression on her play and her work ethic.
“I would say that it prepared me in a way that made me always strive for perfection. Now, I don’t really need a coach to push me to be great because I can push myself,” she said.
The U.S. national team just finished the World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea. The U.S. finished in ninth place in the tournament. In the final game of the tournament, Grant finished second on the team in points (14) and blocks (4).
Nia is thankful for all of the support she has received over her playing career.
“Again, I just want to say thank you to my family, friends and the entire community for supporting me,” she said. “I could not have done it without you.”