Colleyville star headed East to continue volleyball career

Colleyville Heritage 2019 setter Grace Koper announced on Twitter that she's committed to Alabama-Birmingham.

"I felt very comfortable and at home on the campus," Koper said. "It's half-way between my family in Dallas and my extended family so I'll have a great support system while I'm there."

Koper recorded a team-high 1,440 assists last season and added 313 digs, 55 aces, 46 kills and 23 blocks. She was voted District 8-5A Setter of the Year and named 5A all-state by both the Texas Girls Coaches Association and Texas Association of Volleyball Coaches.

The Panthers went 39-8 in 2017 and are coming off their first regional final appearance since 2013. They've gone 75-17 and 28-0 in district the past two seasons.

Koper was district Newcomer of the Year in 2016 after recording 484 assists, 177 digs and 47 aces.

"I meet a few players at camp and they were all extremely nice and welcoming," she said. "The current players answered all of the questions I had about campus life and how to handle being a student athlete."

UAB announced the hiring of new head coach Amy Pauly in January.

"What sold me was coach Pauly. I knew from the first time I talked to her she was someone I wanted to play for," Koper said. "Her vision for what she wants to do with the program and how I can help her make that vision a reality, made me feel like I could have a positive impact on her program."

Koper attended the Star-Telegram's Tomlinson Honors earlier this month after being named a player of the year candidate.

She felt the time was right to commit.

"It was time because I found the right school for me and I knew I couldn't pass this opportunity up," she said.