Penn State volleyball’s Gillian Grimes signed with LOVB Madison after a stellar libero career as a Nittany Lion. Grimes was one of the defensive anchors in 2025, contributing in both passing and digging.
Grimes was named the Big Ten Libero of the Year, becoming the first recipient of the honor in conference history.
Penn State Volleyball’s Gillian Grimes Signs With LOVB Madison Following Collegiate Career
Grimes was nothing short of phenomenal in her senior season, serving as team captain for Penn State. She finished with 441 digs, an average of 3.64 per set, and recorded 30 aces offensively, earning All-East Coast Region honors alongside Kennedy Martin and Maggie Mendelson. The trio helped the Nittany Lions reach the NCAA Tournament for the 45th straight year.
One of the strongest players at the collegiate level, Grimes ended the 2025 regular season with an 18-12 record, which earned her Big Ten honors. She and her team aimed to defend their title but suffered a loss to the Texas Longhorns in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Texas rolled to a 25-16, 25-9, 25-19 victory, ending Penn State’s bid for a ninth national title that would have tied Stanford.
Following the season, Grimes was expected to turn professional with the San Diego Mojo of the Major Volleyball League. However, LOVB announced that the 2024 national champion has signed with Madison, bringing her collegiate success to the professional level.
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Grimes was previously selected in the third round by the San Diego Mojo after tallying double-digit digs in 24 matches and being recognized as one of the top passers.
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The 22-year-old was a key contributor during the season that led the Nittany Lions to their eighth NCAA title. She appeared in all 37 matches and all 135 sets, starting as the libero in every contest. She capped her junior year with 529 total digs and averaged 3.92 digs per set. One of her standout performances came against Yale, when she recorded 27 digs.
Grimes delivered double-digit digs in 30 matches, anchoring the defense throughout the season. After a 20-dig performance against Purdue, she was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. She also earned Second Team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten honors.
The Nittany Lions demonstrated their dominance against top teams, defeating Creighton in the quarterfinals and Nebraska in the semifinals, winning in five sets after overcoming a two-set deficit. In the championship match, Penn State volleyball defeated then-No. 1 Louisville 3-1 to secure its eighth national title.
