Each week during the school year the Sarasota Herald-Tribune selects girls athletes that stood out the week before based on a combination of coach reports and school nominations sent to sports htincoming@gmail.com and our coverage. Those athletes are put in a poll sponsored by Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, Inc. each Monday on heraldtribune.com and you, our readers, vote on who you think did it best. To get to know our winners better, the Herald-Tribune will have a question-and-answer session with each athlete weekly.
The Herald-Tribune Girls Athlete of the Week sponsored by Central Florida Behavioral Health Network for Sept. 1-6 was Cardinal Mooney volleyball player Brooke Gruhl. Gruhl won the poll with 37.25% of the vote. Gruhl recorded 27 assists in a 3-0 win over Venice.
When and why did you start playing volleyball?
Gruhl: I started playing a Sunday league when I was 5 years old. It was more about having fun than playing volleyball. I also spent a lot of time peppering with my mom in our house. I played a bunch of different sports, but volleyball was my top one, but my mom (Deanna Bosschaert) played in college (Florida State), so I wanted to try it out too.
What is your all-time favorite volleyball memory?
Gruhl: A couple of years ago for club I got to go to Salt Lake City, and I had a lot of fun playing some really great teams. We had snowball fights with the coaches. It was a really special team.
What has been your favorite moment this year?
Gruhl: Either me getting 1,000 assists or as a team when we reverse swept Academy of the Holy Names. We all came together and persevered and won the game together.
What makes you confident in this year’s team?
Gruhl: I think we have a really young team, and we have so much talent. Every day at practice we push each other to be the best. I think off the court our team is really close and we support each other. We have a great time on the court and off the court.
What has been your most humbling moment in volleyball?
Gruhl: When I was in eighth grade I got to play 17U volleyball, and I was playing all of these D-I commits. It was really eye-opening to see the speed of the game and to see what it takes to be a D-I player.
What is your goal in volleyball?
Gruhl: Right now, I’m trying to be the best teammate, support my teammates and make my hitters successful. I would love to be able to play collegiate volleyball one day.
Who is your favorite volleyball player and why?
Gruhl: I would say Bergen Reilly. She’s the setter for Nebraska. She constantly calms the court, she has great hands, and she dishes the ball at a fast speed. That’s something I’m trying to work on. She’s also a great leader and keeps calm under pressure.
Editor’s note: Athlete of the Week Q&As are published in the Sunday sports section.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: The Herald-Tribune Girls Athlete of the Week for Sept. 1-6 winner Cardinal Mooney volleyball player Brooke Gruhl
Reporting by Vinnie Portell, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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