2020-21 (W) Volleyball Roster
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Jersey Number 4
Grace Nelson
- Position:
- Defensive Specialist
- Height:
- 5-9
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Elkhorn, Neb.
- High School:
- Elkhorn
Awards & Honors
2018 Dean’s List
2018-19 BIG EAST All-Academic Team
2018-19 Dean’s List
2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 Second Team
2019-20 BIG EAST All-Academic Team
2019-20 Dean’s List
2020-21: Senior at Creighton
• Served as CU’s libero in seven sets this season.
• Made debut as libero with 12 digs vs. Nebraska-Omaha (Jan. 22), then added nine digs two days later vs. Northern Iowa (Jan. 24).
• Had career-high 26 digs -- 11 more than her previous best -- vs. South Dakota (Jan. 29).
• Finished with first kill of the season at Kansas State (March 20).
• Checked into BIG EAST Tournament finals win vs. Marquette for her defense (April 3).
• Is also student teaching this semester.
2019: Junior at Creighton
• Started 12 times while playing in all 31 matches as a defensive specialist.
• Ranked fourth on the team with an average of 1.45 digs per set.
• In 298 serve reception attempts, was aced just 18 times to rank among CU’s top passers.
• After just 13 digs all of 2018, had 31 digs in first five matches of 2019, and 151 overall.
• Posted nine digs in 3-2 win at Northern Iowa (Sept. 6) and 3-0 sweep at Xavier (Nov. 16).
• Made first start as a Bluejay vs. No. 12 Washington (Sept. 14).
• Earned first (and only) kill as a Bluejay on Sept. 19 vs. Wichita State.
• Finished with nine digs in 3-0 win at Providence (Oct. 26).
• Registered a season-high 12 digs in win vs. No. 9 Marquette to clinch BIG EAST regular-season title (Nov. 22).
• Collected six digs in NCAA Tournament matches against both Iowa State (Dec. 6) and No. 7 Minnesota (Dec. 7).
• Dean’s List student who was a CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-District 7 pick.
2018: Sophomore at Creighton
• Played in 11 matches and 17 sets, all as a reserve.
• Averaged 0.76 digs per set.
• Made her Creighton debut on Aug. 31 vs. Arkansas State, recording a pair of digs.
• Owned a dig vs. No. 7 Nebraska (Sept. 6).
• Picked up three digs vs. DePaul (Sept. 21).
• Had a pair of digs at Georgetown (Oct. 12).
• Served first ace as a Bluejay to end the first set vs. Butler (Oct. 20).
• Played in all three sets of road victory at DePaul (Oct. 27), finishing with one dig.
• Earned season-high four digs in 3-0 win at Seton Hall (Nov. 3).
Spring 2018 at Creighton
• Transferred to Creighton in January of 2018 and practiced with the Bluejays during the spring and played with the team during the trip to Europe.
2017: Freshman at Ball State
• Started 13-of-25 matches she played in for Ball State, which is located in Muncie, Indiana, and part of the Mid-American Conference.
• Collected 164 digs (2.19 dps.) and also authored nine aces (0.12 saps.).
• Compiled a season-high 15 digs vs. Bradley (Sept. 1), one of five matches that she had double-figure digs.
• Served a season-high four aces vs. Idaho State (Sept. 8).
• Contributed 12 digs and a pair of service aces at Eastern Michigan (Sept. 22).
• Owned two kills, one each against Evansville (Sept. 14) and Eastern Michigan (Sept. 22).
Elkhorn High School
• Earned four letters in volleyball under the direction of coach Abby Dasilva.
• Helped guide Elkhorn to a 27-8 record as a senior, when she accumulated 665 digs and 24 aces.
• Two-time Defensive Award winner for the program.
• Named First Team All-State as a senior by the Associated Press, and Third Team All-State by the Lincoln Journal Star.
• Earned All-State Honorable Mention accolades from the Associated Press as both a sophomore and junior, as well.
• Helped EHS to a 91-46 record over four years.
• Produced 1,805 digs and 73 aces in 137 career matches.
Personal
• Daughter of Don and Susan Nelson.
• Has siblings Brenna and Cole.
• Is an elementary education major.
• Learned how to order food online during the pandemic.
• Go-to pregame music is Dua Lipa.
• Worked as a server in the summer of 2020, as well as a volleyball coach for Nebraska Elite.
• Dream vacation destination is Greece.
• Always needs to have gum as part of a gameday superstition.
• Best friends on other college volleyball teams include Sarah Swanson (TCU) and Alli Schomers (UMKC).
• Chose Creighton because it is a great atmosphere to excel on the court and in academics with a student-athlete program that cares.
• Dream dinner guests would be Malala Yousafzai, Dua Lipa and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
• Sports hero is Michael Jordan.
• Best volleyball memory is beating Marquette at their place.
• Ten years from now would like to be traveling and making the world a better place.
• Favorite class at Creighton is children’s literature with Dr. Carin Appleget.
• Thinks Makenna Krause is her most improved teammate.
Creighton Volleyball vs Nebraska Postgame Press Conference Spring Match
Saturday, April 18
Nebraska Volleyball vs Creighton Postgame Press Conference Spring Match
Saturday, April 18
Creighton Volleyball Media Availability - 4/15/26
Wednesday, April 15
Creighton vs. Kentucky Volleyball Press Conference - 12/13/25
Sunday, December 14
