University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Update with CC McGraw
2/4/2022 8:55:00 AM | Volleyball
The fifth year senior reminisces on last season and what's to come for the future
Gophers two-time All-American CC McGraw reminisces on the 2021 season, previews 2022 and talks about what she's been up to off the court in our Spring 2022 blog series.
Reflecting on the Season
As this season came to its conclusion, I couldn't stop thinking about how close-knit our team had become. This was, by far, the most inclusive and enjoyable group of athletes with whom I have ever had the pleasure to play. Early in the season, things were challenging as we arguably played the toughest preseason schedule of any team in the country. Although our difficult schedule early on was challenging, we were persistently optimistic because we knew that we were fully capable of making the changes necessary to be successful. For many of our starters, it was their first time playing in front of a packed PAV and full crowds, so it took some time to acclimate.
As we made our way through the season, we began to find our groove and really started to figure out the type of team we wanted to be. We also understood and embraced that no one has ever played a perfect game of volleyball, so we needed to free ourselves of any expectations and just lean into the moments for each other. Because of this intentional mindset, I think all members of the roster would agree that they had implicit and complete trust in each of their teammates. We had each others' backs and made genuine and authentic connections off the court, which only strengthened our abilities, performance and success on the court.
As the conference season wrapped up, we were ready to prove ourselves to the volleyball world in the NCAA Tournament. First, we had to come together as a group and discuss some of the struggles that come with the tournament, such as the influence of social media and comments that fans make about our capabilities, performance and potential. We needed to nip that in the bud early and acknowledge that in order to make a serious run for the title, we had to solely focus on ourselves and play for each other. There will always be people who try to define who we are as a team and predict what our potential is. Respectfully, they are entitled to their opinions, but at the end of the day, we are the ones putting in the work every single day, making countless sacrifices, and still balancing volleyball with school and other life challenges.
By recognizing that we were IN IT together and changing the narrative to fighting FOR each other, we gave ourselves the comfort of knowing that the sport is about the relationships you build and understanding the influence that has on your success. There is way more to the game than a win or loss. I can confidently say that although we lost in the Elite Eight, the lifelong relationships I built with the players and staff are my biggest takeaways from this year. I am extremely proud to be a part of such an inclusive and welcoming program, one that consistently challenges each of us to be a better person and player. I do not take it for granted as I know that important focus can get lost at higher levels of competition. I know that the Gopher coaches genuinely care about me as a person as I have experienced first-hand how they prioritize the mental health of their athletes.
Taking Time to Decompress
After taking some time to relax after the season, it was awesome to decompress and spend some quality time with my friends and family. My boyfriend and I took a weekend trip to Lutsen, Minn., where we went snow shoeing and played cribbage and other board games nonstop. It was the perfect getaway. I love being outside, so it was wonderful to get some fresh air and be surrounded by nature.
I was able to get in some warmer weather as I soaked in every moment of sunshine during a weekend in Austin, Texas for my sister's wedding. It was the perfect opportunity to reunite with my family and see so many wonderful humans. I absolutely love weddings and my sister was the most beautiful bride. This spring, I plan to venture out west to Colorado for two weeks and explore the mountains and vistas in America's incredible national parks.
On to 2022
Reflecting on the lessons of this past season's experience and what I have seen in the gym so far this spring makes me indescribably optimistic and excited for what the future holds for this team. We changed the culture and our approach to competition as a true unit really evolved. These were significant factors which laid a strong and unbreakable foundation on which we will continue to achieve.
As I approach my fifth and final year as a Gopher player, I want to continue to build on this and nurture authentic connections with each of my teammates, as I also promote a safe environment in which everyone has a voice and plays a significant role in our team's success. By doing so, we will fortify the strong foundation on which we build, which will better equip us to make some serious strides and improvement on our technical sides of the game. We will continue to learn and make changes to be more efficient within our positions as well as become a well-oiled machine as a team.
Time to Graduate (x2)
I am entering my second semester of graduate school in the sport and exercise science M.Ed. program. I am passionate about athletics (shocker) and plan to work as a sports performance trainer after graduation, incorporating my sports psychology training and experience. I plan to get my certifications and licensure in sports psychology and utilize my knowledge to best support my clients and athletes. I know how impactful sports psychology has been to my career as I have encountered several injuries and challenges with my mental health, so I want to do the same for the next generation of athletes.
Reflecting on the Season
As this season came to its conclusion, I couldn't stop thinking about how close-knit our team had become. This was, by far, the most inclusive and enjoyable group of athletes with whom I have ever had the pleasure to play. Early in the season, things were challenging as we arguably played the toughest preseason schedule of any team in the country. Although our difficult schedule early on was challenging, we were persistently optimistic because we knew that we were fully capable of making the changes necessary to be successful. For many of our starters, it was their first time playing in front of a packed PAV and full crowds, so it took some time to acclimate.
As we made our way through the season, we began to find our groove and really started to figure out the type of team we wanted to be. We also understood and embraced that no one has ever played a perfect game of volleyball, so we needed to free ourselves of any expectations and just lean into the moments for each other. Because of this intentional mindset, I think all members of the roster would agree that they had implicit and complete trust in each of their teammates. We had each others' backs and made genuine and authentic connections off the court, which only strengthened our abilities, performance and success on the court.
As the conference season wrapped up, we were ready to prove ourselves to the volleyball world in the NCAA Tournament. First, we had to come together as a group and discuss some of the struggles that come with the tournament, such as the influence of social media and comments that fans make about our capabilities, performance and potential. We needed to nip that in the bud early and acknowledge that in order to make a serious run for the title, we had to solely focus on ourselves and play for each other. There will always be people who try to define who we are as a team and predict what our potential is. Respectfully, they are entitled to their opinions, but at the end of the day, we are the ones putting in the work every single day, making countless sacrifices, and still balancing volleyball with school and other life challenges.
By recognizing that we were IN IT together and changing the narrative to fighting FOR each other, we gave ourselves the comfort of knowing that the sport is about the relationships you build and understanding the influence that has on your success. There is way more to the game than a win or loss. I can confidently say that although we lost in the Elite Eight, the lifelong relationships I built with the players and staff are my biggest takeaways from this year. I am extremely proud to be a part of such an inclusive and welcoming program, one that consistently challenges each of us to be a better person and player. I do not take it for granted as I know that important focus can get lost at higher levels of competition. I know that the Gopher coaches genuinely care about me as a person as I have experienced first-hand how they prioritize the mental health of their athletes.
Taking Time to Decompress
After taking some time to relax after the season, it was awesome to decompress and spend some quality time with my friends and family. My boyfriend and I took a weekend trip to Lutsen, Minn., where we went snow shoeing and played cribbage and other board games nonstop. It was the perfect getaway. I love being outside, so it was wonderful to get some fresh air and be surrounded by nature.
I was able to get in some warmer weather as I soaked in every moment of sunshine during a weekend in Austin, Texas for my sister's wedding. It was the perfect opportunity to reunite with my family and see so many wonderful humans. I absolutely love weddings and my sister was the most beautiful bride. This spring, I plan to venture out west to Colorado for two weeks and explore the mountains and vistas in America's incredible national parks.
On to 2022
Reflecting on the lessons of this past season's experience and what I have seen in the gym so far this spring makes me indescribably optimistic and excited for what the future holds for this team. We changed the culture and our approach to competition as a true unit really evolved. These were significant factors which laid a strong and unbreakable foundation on which we will continue to achieve.
As I approach my fifth and final year as a Gopher player, I want to continue to build on this and nurture authentic connections with each of my teammates, as I also promote a safe environment in which everyone has a voice and plays a significant role in our team's success. By doing so, we will fortify the strong foundation on which we build, which will better equip us to make some serious strides and improvement on our technical sides of the game. We will continue to learn and make changes to be more efficient within our positions as well as become a well-oiled machine as a team.
Time to Graduate (x2)
I am entering my second semester of graduate school in the sport and exercise science M.Ed. program. I am passionate about athletics (shocker) and plan to work as a sports performance trainer after graduation, incorporating my sports psychology training and experience. I plan to get my certifications and licensure in sports psychology and utilize my knowledge to best support my clients and athletes. I know how impactful sports psychology has been to my career as I have encountered several injuries and challenges with my mental health, so I want to do the same for the next generation of athletes.
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