University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Photo by: Harrison Barden
Middle Blocker Naya Gros Signs with 'U'
5/11/2022 3:18:00 PM | Volleyball
Gros is a graduate transfer from Michigan State
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota volleyball program has announced the addition of graduate transfer middle blocker Naya Gros (New Orleans, La./Michigan State). A four-year starter for the Spartans, Gros will have one season of collegiate eligibility remaining in 2022.
"Naya is a very talented middle blocker with a proven history of success," head coach Hugh McCutcheon said. "She will add some great depth and experience to our program."
During her time at MSU, she appeared in 107 matches (386 sets) and averaged 1.80 kills per set on .290 hitting. She also added 1.20 blocks per set over the course of her career. Gros had her best season as a Spartan in 2021, tallying a career-best 1.31 b/s, which ranked first on the team. The New Orleans, La., native led MSU in blocks per set in each of the last four seasons.
This past fall, she finished fifth in the Big Ten and 18th nationally in both total blocks (131) and b/s (1.31). Gros' career average of 1.20 blocks per set is sixth on MSU's career rankings. She totaled multiple blocks in 27 of 29 matches in 2021, including 11 matches with five-or-more blocks.
In the summer of 2019, Gros was selected as a member of the B1G Foreign Tour. She completed a 10-day training session and played in exhibition games in Osaka, Kyoto, Aichi Province, and Tokyo, Japan.
Gros will be added to a Gophers middle group that features senior Ellie Husemann, freshman Carter Booth and sophomore Ohio State transfer Arica Davis. She will be on campus and practicing with the team prior to the fall 2022 semester in August.
For the 2022 season, Minnesota returns eight athletes who started matches in last season's run to the NCAA Regional Final. The 'U' finished No. 7 in the final AVCA Poll, its seventh straight top-10 finish nationally. The Gophers have won at least two NCAA Tournament matches in nine of coach McCutcheon's 10 years in charge of the program.
"Naya is a very talented middle blocker with a proven history of success," head coach Hugh McCutcheon said. "She will add some great depth and experience to our program."
During her time at MSU, she appeared in 107 matches (386 sets) and averaged 1.80 kills per set on .290 hitting. She also added 1.20 blocks per set over the course of her career. Gros had her best season as a Spartan in 2021, tallying a career-best 1.31 b/s, which ranked first on the team. The New Orleans, La., native led MSU in blocks per set in each of the last four seasons.
This past fall, she finished fifth in the Big Ten and 18th nationally in both total blocks (131) and b/s (1.31). Gros' career average of 1.20 blocks per set is sixth on MSU's career rankings. She totaled multiple blocks in 27 of 29 matches in 2021, including 11 matches with five-or-more blocks.
In the summer of 2019, Gros was selected as a member of the B1G Foreign Tour. She completed a 10-day training session and played in exhibition games in Osaka, Kyoto, Aichi Province, and Tokyo, Japan.
Gros will be added to a Gophers middle group that features senior Ellie Husemann, freshman Carter Booth and sophomore Ohio State transfer Arica Davis. She will be on campus and practicing with the team prior to the fall 2022 semester in August.
For the 2022 season, Minnesota returns eight athletes who started matches in last season's run to the NCAA Regional Final. The 'U' finished No. 7 in the final AVCA Poll, its seventh straight top-10 finish nationally. The Gophers have won at least two NCAA Tournament matches in nine of coach McCutcheon's 10 years in charge of the program.
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