MCC’s Greta Bolognini signs with Kent State

McCook Community College sophomore Greta Bolognini (Bergamo, Italy) has signed a letter of intent to continue her volleyball next season at Kent State University in Ohio, a division 1 program.

The Region IX libero of the year and all-Region IX South first team selection said dialogue with Kent State began in November with one of the assistant coaches. A week later she spoke on the phone with Coach Haley Eckerman, a four-time All-American and 2012 National Champion when she played at Texas.

"As we were getting to know each other and I told her where I'm from, she said 'Oh, I played there professionally,'" Bolognini said. "And she was talking about all these players that I used to watch when I was little and one of them is one of her best friends."

Bolognini visited the campus in December and said she loved it. The Golden Flashes compete in the Mid American Conference and she expects her defensive roles to be similar at Kent State.

MCC Coach Hayley Kobza expects Bolognini to make a successful transition to division 1 volleyball and that she should fit in well at Kent State.

"She's a force to be reckoned with and brings something more to the table than great volleyball," Kobza said. "She's a great leader as well."

The MCC business major spent a year of high school at Parkview Christian in Lincoln before coming to McCook. She played in 34 matches as a freshman and had 281 digs.

This season, Bolognini ended the regular season with the most digs of any players in the nation with 707. She averaged 5.61 dig per set, fourth most. For the season she played in 35 matches and had 129 assists and 36 service aces.

"I'm very excited for Greta, she came in here with a purpose and a passion," said Kobza "She knew she wanted to be the one who was starting and playing and you could tell that from the very first day of preseason in August."

She was named the Region IX defensive player of the week four times during the season and named the national defensive player of the week Aug. 30-Sept. 5. She was also selected to the all-tournament team for the MCC Labor Day weekend tournament.

She finished her MCC career playing in 69 matches with 988 digs, 163 assists and 78 service aces.

"Greta listened very well and was very coachable but one thing that sets a great libero apart from the others is that they don't ask 'is this ball mine?'" Kobza said. "She just goes for every single ball and makes every ball hers."

Bolognini said she is appreciative of her coach.

"I'll miss Coach Kobza's personality and how much she cares about people and how far she'll push you to be the best you can be," she said.

Bolognini's favorite memory on the court was a sophomore night sweep over Trinidad State.

"Having all the families there and being aware that's your last game on that court is something special," she said.

Academically, Bolognini was named to the National Junior College all-Academic first team following her freshman year. That honor is for students achieving a 4.0 GPA. She was named to the Mid-Plains Community College President's list all three of her semesters (for students with GPAs higher than 3.90.)