BREVARD, N.C. - Throughout the Fall, the Brevard College Department of Athletics will be highlighting its staff members in a tri-weekly Staff Highlight Series, giving members of the Athletic Administration and Coaching Staff the opportunity to introduce themselves to the BC community through a series of questions and biographical elements.
Next up in BC's Staff Highlight Series is Brevard College Head Volleyball Coach Anna Grant, a former volleyball student-athlete at Appalachian State University.
bctornados.com: What has been your favorite professional memory?
Coach Grant: Competing in the SAC tournament my first year at Brevard was special, but I really enjoy watching players grow and develop within our program and especially after graduation. Being a part of players' lives after their time at BC is so special for me.
bctornados.com: What makes Brevard College a special place?
Coach Grant: Brevard College is a special place because work doesn't feel like work! The family atmosphere and the dedication to students found all over campus is so unique.
bctornados.com: Who has been the biggest influence in your professional career?
Coach Grant: Matt Ginipro (Head Coach at Appalachian State) - my former boss at Appalachian State and one of my closest friends.
bctornados.com: What is some advice you would give to young people looking to get into the profession?
Coach Grant: Make connections! Put yourself out there; work camps, clinics, and attend the AVCA Convention. Always be open to learn other styles of training/coaching. You never know what you will connect with and be passionate about.
Grant in action vs. NC State in a four-set victory. Set a new career-high with 31 kills (August 26, 2011).
Anna Grant came to Brevard in July 2015 from Appalachian State, where she spent two years as an assistant coach with the Mountaineers' volleyball program. She was heavily involved in recruiting, team travel, community service, alumni engagement, and working daily with the team's attackers.
Among those that Grant made the biggest impact with at Appalachian State was middle hitter Lauren Gray, who finished fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in hitting percentage. Grant also worked closely with outside hitters Emily Corrigan and Jess Keller, who finished second and sixth, respectively, in the league in kills per set.
Grant coached five all-conference players and one all-conference tournament honoree during her two seasons in Boone while helping 28 student-athletes earn conference academic honor roll accolades. The Mountaineers also earned a pair of team academic awards from the American Volleyball Coaches Association while she was on staff.
Grant brought several years of Division I playing experience into her first head coaching position. She spent one season at Iowa Western Community College, where she led the team to a fourth-place finish at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. She then played a season at NCAA Division I Florida Gulf Coast University, where her team finished second in the Atlantic Sun Tournament.
She found a home in Boone, however, as Grant finished the final two years of her playing career at Appalachian State. She was named to the All-Southern Conference second team and was an academic all-conference selection while being named a team captain.
After earning her Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from Appalachian State in 2012, she played one season of sand volleyball at the University of North Florida. There, Grant led the Ospreys to a conference title and earned a spot on the all-tournament team. She went on to earn a Masters of Education degree with a specialization in Educational Leadership in December of 2014 while working as an Appalachian State assistant coach.
During her first season at the helm of the Tornados, Grant guided Brevard to its first South Atlantic Conference postseason appearance since the 2009 season, aided by the program's best league finish (9-13) in school history. That same year, Grant coached two all-conference selections in second-team outside hitter Fatima Gharachorloo and honorable-mention defensive specialist Aleksandra Vrvilo.
In 2017-18, Grant coached the Tornados to their first winning season (13-7) since the program's first season in the NCAA (2007-08).
2019-20: USA South Defensive Player of the Week: Mariana Rodriguez, USA South Volleyball All-Sportsmanship Team: Timiah McGhee, NCCSIA All-State Second Team: Mariana Rodriguez.
2018-19: USA South All-Sportsmanship Team: Brittany Franks.
2017-18: 13-7, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team: USA South All-Sportsmanship Team
2015-16: 12-17, 9-13 SAC - Eighth seed in SAC Conference Tournament
NCCSIA All-State First Team: Erin Barr
NCCSIA All-State Second Team: Aleksandra Vrvilo
All-Conference Second Team: Fatima Gharachorloo
All-Conference Honorable Mention: Aleksandra Vrviolo
National HERO of the Week: Aleksandra Vrvilo
SAC Specialist of the Week (2): Aleksandra Vrvilo
SAC Specialist of the Week: Erin Barr
National HERO of the Week: Erin Barr
Preseason All-SAC Second Team: Aleksandra Vrvilo
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-BC-