Meet the Newcomers
NIA
GRANT 6-2, Freshman Outside Hitter
WARREN, OHIO • HOWLAND
High School Three-year varsity letterwinner and team captain at Howland High School in Warren, Ohio ... led the team in kills and blocks as a freshman ... earned the Outstanding Achievement Award for volleyball as a sophomore ... named the District I Volleyball Player of the Year, named MVP and picked up District I Division I First Team honors as a junior ... named to the Under Armour Watch List as a senior ... Volleyball Magazine “Fab 50” ... four-year letterwinner in track & field.
as favorite entertainers, “Bad Girls Club” as favorite TV show, the Los Angeles Lakers as favorite professional sports team, “Benjamin Button” as favorite movie, Michael Jordan as favorite athlete, Ashton Kutcher and Halle Berry as favorite actors and chicken fingers as favorite food. Quoting Coach Rose “Nia is a player we’ve seen at camp for a number of years. We’re projecting that she’s going to get stronger, quicker and help us this year. She has a good frame with long levers. She will have to embrace what it takes to be a competitiveDivision I player and get stronger and get in the weight room.” Grant’s Expectations “As a team - to win the national championship again with an undefeated season. Personal - to improve as an all-around player.” Why Penn State? “The entire campus is like one big family, everyone has a tremendous amount of school pride. The volleyball program is amaing, and I’ve always wanted to play for Coach Rose. Academically, they are one of the top nursing schools.”
Personal Born Nia Nicole Grant on May 8, 1993 in Warren, Ohio ... parents are African and Stacey Grant ... has one brother, A.J. Grant II (14), and one sister, Faith (11) ... father, African, played football for the Miami Dolphins ... majoring in nursing ... names photography and shoes as her hobbies, “Your Heart Belongs to Me” as favorite book, Lil’ Wayne, Drake and Canton Jones
MICHA
HANCOCK 5-11, Freshman Setter
EDMOND, OKLA. • EDMOND MEMORIAL
High School Four-year varsity letterwinner and three-year team captain at Edmond Memorial High School in Edmond, Okla. ... guided her team to the 2007, 2009 and 2010 Oklahoma 6A State Championship ... was a two-time AllEdmond Player of the Year, All-City Player of the Year and MVP of the State Championship All-Tournament Team ... twice named the Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year ... voted High School All-American by PrepVolleyball. com ... earned a spot on the 2009 USA Junior National Championship AllTournament Team ... was a candidate for PrepVolleyball National Junior of the Year and National Senior of the Year ... named to the PrepVolleyball.com Class of 2011 Top 50 Recruits and 2011 Senior Ace... Volleyball Magazine “Fab 50” ... earned Best Setter Award in 2010 USA High Performance International Championship Tournament ... selected to the 2010 Youth Olympic Team ... was a 2010 Under Armour All-American.
Personal Born Micha Danielle Hancock on Nov. 10, 1992 in McAlester, Okla. ... parents are Michael and Kelly Hancock ... has one sister, Kelsey (21) ... sister, Kelsey, plays volleyball at Tulsa University ... mother, Kelly, played basketball at Oklahoma State University ... father, Michael, was a professional boxer ... names dancing as her hobby, Dave Chappelle as favorite entertainer, the Thunder as favorite professional sports team, “The Blood Diamond” as favorite movie, Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet as favorite actors and pasta as favorite food. Quoting Coach Rose “Micha is naturally strong and not afraid to take a good swing as a lefthanded attacker. She’s a really competitive player and I know she will go hard every day. Her contributions could be both as a setter or as a hitter.” Hancock’s Expectations “I want to work hard, contribute to the team and of course win another national championship.” Why Penn State? “I chose Penn State because it had an exceptional, highly competitive volleyball program, a large choice of majors and employer respect toward graduates.”
14-Time Big Ten Champions ‘92, ‘93, ‘96, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99, ‘03, ‘04, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘08, ‘09, ‘10 • GoPSUsports.com • PENN STATE 2011–12
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