The Valpo volleyball program was represented by a trio of student-athletes as the Missouri Valley Conference unveiled its Scholar-Athlete teams on Monday. Gretchen Kuckkan (Lafayette, Ind./Central Catholic [Indiana State]) and Bella Ravotto (Mishawaka, Ind./Marian) were named Scholar-Athlete First Team honorees, while Jillie Grant (Maumee, Ohio/Anthony Wayne) received Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention recognition.

Kuckkan averaged 2.03 kills/set for the Beacons, leading the team in kills four times and reaching double figures in the category five times. She posted a Valpo season-best 25 kills in the team’s win over Northern Illinois — fourth-most in a four-set match by a Valpo player in the 25-point era — and was named MVP of Valpo’s Popcorn Classic.

In the classroom, Kuckkan boasts a 4.00 GPA as an elementary education and complementary math major. She received the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award last season.

Ravotto posted a team-high 2.21 kills/set on the season and ranked third on the team with 3.21 digs/set. She reached double figures in kills in a team-best 11 matches and registered 10+ digs on 22 occasions. An All-Tournament Team honoree at Youngstown State and MVC Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 12, Ravotto moved into the top-15 in program history in career digs this season.

In the classroom, Ravotto owns a 3.935 GPA. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in health care leadership and is currently working towards her master’s in health administration. Ravotto was an MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention choice last season and received the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award.

Grant returned from injury this year to average 1.70 kills/set and 1.91 kills/set for the Beacons. She reached double figures in kills five times — including a season-best 15 in a win over Bradley — and in digs on four occasions.

Grant maintains a 3.843 GPA as an accounting major. An MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team choice in the spring of 2021, she was one of just 10 Valpo athletes to earn the MVC Presidents’ Council Academic Excellence Award last year.