Nia Grant Class: Freshman Hometown: Warren, Ohio High School: Howland Height: 6-2 Position: OH

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.

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 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."