Berry Volleyball Player Rewarded for Talent

Grace Brannon named conference player of the week

The Southern States Athletic Conference tapped Berry junior Grace Brannon, 20, its volleyball Player of the Week.

Brannon’s performance at the SSAC Volleyball Tournament at Brewton-Parker College also earned her a position on the All-SSAC Tournament team.

While the award means a lot to Brannon, she is quick to clarify that her motivations lie in the success of the team rather than the spotlight.

“I always try to do well, and anytime you get recognized for hard work is good, but it doesn’t act as my motivation,” Brannon said. “You never expect something like that, but that’s not what I’m playing for.”

Team first
Brannon considers the accolade one of the highlights of the season. However, her excitement lies in how well the team preformed rather than receiving an award.

“My season highlight was at the conference last week when we meshed as a team,” Brannon said. “Also spending time with the team on trips and quality time with the girls, that’s what I love.”

Though Grace was disinclined to celebrate her award, her teammates and friends were enthusiastic.

“Everyone was very excited about it, said teammate Nikki Weaver, a sophomore. "We were all glad the see her get rewarded for being such a good player.”

Deserving player
Another teammate, sophomore Betsy Bowers, said she thinks Brannon deserves the citation because "she’s one who we all look to because she makes good decisions on the court. She is great as an outside hitter and back row, recently in the rotation and has been playing really well.”

The skill has lead Brannon’s teammates to nickname her “the Rocket."

For Brannon the real joy of the sport comes in the relationships between players and when the team can act as a unit to gain success rather than be built around just one player. She explained this as she talked about her career highlights.

“For me it’s certain games that would be considered my better games; when there’s great success as a team; like last year when we played the number 18th team in the nation and beat them,” said Brannon. “I love the team, and I love just being here with the girls.”

This attitude does not go unnoticed by Brannon’s teammates.

“Grace brings a really good energy to the team. She’s the kind of person when things are tense she will break the ice with some awkward or funny comment to ease the atmosphere,” said Bowers. “At the beginning of the season when all the new players might feel intimidated, Grace is the first to quickly break the ice. She helps us mesh as a team.”

“She is the kind of person who can always bring a laugh when anyone is down. She’s a fun person to play with,” said Weaver.

When she’s not on the court, Brannon is spending quality time with her teammates and making people laugh.

Brannon is an animal science major from Westavia Hills, Alabama.

[CJ]