Grace Hussey is a 5’6 outside/oppo hitter on the girls’ Rio Americano’s varsity volleyball team. Before this year, Grace attended Christian Brothers and played on their freshman team her first year.

She says “I liked the team culture at CB, but have thoroughly enjoyed how close knit Rio’s team is, it’s made the chemistry on the court much better.”

Off the court, Grace maintains the team bond by pursuing friendships further than strictly on the team. She states that this her transfer easier and less stressful. She appreciates how much the Rio coaches have stressed team unity and said it’s better than any team she’s been on.

One example of this that she has shared was when the varsity team was playing their last game in Napa at Vintage High School against the Acalanes. In the third set, they were tied at 13.

Grace said that seeing the team cheer so much in a tense situation changed her perspective on sports. Volleyball had gone from a sport about winning to a sport about supporting one another.

Even though the girls lost, they took home a second place trophy and went home just as close as ever. Celebrating off the court, Graces says, has made being with the team much better.