2013 Volleyball Roster
Sep 26 (Fri)
6:30 PM
Darby Graff
- Position:
- Middle Blocker
- Height:
- 6-1
- Class:
- Freshman
- High School:
- Hallsville
- Hometown:
- Hallsville, Texas
GRAFF'S HONORS
2014
- Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll
2013
- Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll
2014 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE)
Played in 10 matches and 17 sets overall while providing backup at the middle blocker and opposite hitter positions…Hit .339 and averaged 1.47 kills and 1.82 points per set for the full season…Drew the first start of her career at Tennessee on Oct. 3 and set a career high with three blocks assists in two sets…Provided a spark off the bench in A&M’s pre-conference 3-1 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, posting a career-high six kills without an error…Also came off the bench against VCU and had several crucial plays in the Aggies’ comeback 3-2 win over the Rams…Slated to graduate in May 2015.
2013 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN)
Made her career debut against Lamar on Sept. 5 after sitting out preseason drills while recovering from ankle surgery...Appeared in four matches and five sets overall...Had a career-high five kills in only two sets in a 3-0 victory against Tennessee on Nov. 15.
2012 (FRESHMAN)
Redshirted while training and learning under the tutelage of starting senior middle blockers Lindsey Miller and Stephanie Minnerly.
PREVIOUS ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE
A state champion in the high jump, also was a decorated three-year starter as a middle blocker and right side hitter for coach Cheryl Bell at Hallsville High School...Led the Bobcats volleyball team to three consecutive area round postseason appearances, two district titles and a 93-24 overall record during her career...Earned All-State first team honors from the Texas Sports Writers Association as a senior after garnering third team honors as a junior...Was a three-time member of the All-East Texas Team, receiving top hitter honors in each of her final two seasons and newcomer of the year laurels as a sophomore...Was a unanimous District 14-4A MVP selection as a senior after posting 627 kills and 159 blocks...Also was district MVP in 2010 and district newcomer of the year in 2009...Named to the 2011 AVCA Under Armour All-America Watch List...Played two years of club for Wrecking Crew VBC and the last two years for East Texas Juniors...Was a four-year letterwinner in both track and field and basketball at Hallsville...Was a three-time District 14-4A champion and two time 4A region and state champion in the high jump, including a 5-8 winning effort at the 2011 state meet...Also was the 2012 Texas Relays high jump champion and was a member of the District 14-4A 4x400 relay champion team...Placed third in the high jump at the 2011 USATF Junior Olympic Championships after winning the Region 9 and Southwestern Association high jump titles...A three-time regional qualifier in the 4x400 relay, also was a regional qualifier in the open 400 as a freshman...Was a four-year letterwinner in basketball, twice earning all-District 14-4A first team honors...Was an honor graduate at Hallsville High School and earned academic all-district honors in both volleyball and basketball...Most memorable moments during prep career are winning back-to-back high school state championships in the high jump, going to the playoffs in three different sports all four years of high school, and “playing a huge part in beating White Oak on my 16th birthday, the only loss they had and they won state that year.”
PERSONAL
Darby Diane Graff is the daughter of Chad and Kelly Graff...Has a younger brother, Garrett...Has several relatives who have competed in collegiate sports, including her grandfather, Bryan Lee McDowell, who was a standout golfer at Texas A&M from 1965-67, and her uncle, Braxton Hickman, who played baseball at Texas in 1992 and 1993 was drafted by the Kansas City Royals...Began playing volleyball when she was 12...Chose to attend A&M because “I’ve always wanted to be an Aggie...A&M is the place for me!”...Most memorable athletic moment at A&M is when she scored her first points for Aggie volleyball against Tennessee in Reed Arena...Hobbies include hunting, fishing, playing other sports, cooking/baking and DIY projects found on Pinterest...Was a volunteer for Residence Hall Move-In Assistance Day, welcoming and assisting new and returning Aggies move into their dorms...Majoring in university studies with a concentration in sports leadership and minoring in park and natural resources management and sport management...Was a member of the 2013 SEC Honor Roll and the Texas A&M Athletics Director’s Academic Honor Roll in spring 2014...Career ambition is to own a business in which she can incorporate the use of sports to help children with special needs, using sports to help teach them motor skills and other skills....Born August 24, 1994, in Marshall, Texas.
GRAFF UP CLOSE
Favorites:
- Favorite class subject: History
- Favorite quote: “I don’t want to gain the whole world and lose my soul.” -Toby Mac
- Favorite volleyball player: Misty May-Treanor
- Favorite athlete (any sport): Mike Trout
- Favorite professional sports team (any sport): Texas Rangers
- Favorite social media site: Instagram
- Favorite app: Pinterest
- Favorite musical artist: Cody Johnson
- Favorite food: Grilled BBQ chicken
- Favorite TV show: Nashville
- Favorite book: Unlocked
- Favorite movie: Sweetest Thing
- Favorite part about the sport of volleyball: Blocking
- Favorite sport to play other than volleyball: Basketball
- Favorite thing about A&M: The traditions
- Favorite Aggie tradition: Aggie Ring
- Favorite Karaoke song to sing: 22 by Taylor Swift
Miscellaneous:
- My nickname is: Darbalarb
- One word to describe me when I’m on the court: Tenacious
- One word to describe me away from the court: Enthusiastic
- The person who has had the greatest impact on my athletic career: all my coaches have had an impact on my athletic career but my dad has always been at the top of the list!
- The accomplishment (athletic or non-athletic) that I am most proud of: Winning the state high jump two years in a row
- The person I would most like to meet: Jennifer Aniston
- People have told me that I look like (name of celebrity): Taylor Swift...which I don’t really see
- The song title that best describes me: She’s Like Texas
- Song played most on my iPod: anything played by Cody Johnson or Florida Georgia Line
- When I was little, I dreamed of being a: Vet
- What Duck Dynasty character are you most like: Jase
- My most memorable moment in a class at A&M: when my Entomology prof made bug recipes for the class and we had to eat them. :(
- Early bird or night owl: Both, depends on the season
- Something I've always wanted to do but haven't: Travel the world
- The reality show I would most like to participate in is: Amazing Race
- I can’t believe I watch this show: Vampire Diaries
- Few people know that I: Strongly dislike peanut butter
- My hidden talent(s): I’m a handstand champ!
- My most prized possession: Family and friends
- My most annoying habit: Procrastination
- My pet peeves: When people whistle songs, when people say they are going to do something but don’t follow through
- My superstitions: None
- After I graduate, I plan to: hopefully travel around the world then find a job working with kids with special needs
- My dream job is: To work with the Special Olympics
- Teammate who is the biggest One Direction fan: no one
- Teammate most likely to be on People’s “Best Dressed” list: Angela Lowak
- Teammate most likely to become president: Hannah Hood
- The teammate who can always make me laugh: Jazzmin Babers
Teammate who would be the best candidate for:
- The Voice: Katelyn Labhart
- Dancing with the Stars: Kaysie Shebeneck
- Amazing Race: Angela Lowak
- Wipeout: Jazzmin Babers
- Survivor: Hannah Hood
- America’s Next Top Model: Shelby Sullivan
- Project Runway: Amy Nettles
- Shark Tank: Angela Lowak
- Cupcake Wars: Katelyn Labhart
- MasterChef: Me!
