Last year’s volleyball semifinal loss to Florida, combined with third-place team finish at outdoor track and field championships have increased desire for junior setter to lead Cardinal to historic eighth crown against defending-champion Nebraska

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Jenna Gray began her athletic career at Stanford the way any student-athlete would dream about.

Before she ever picked up a javelin for the Cardinal track and field program, Gray had already captured an NCAA Division 1 championship in 2016 as the starting setter for the Stanford women’s volleyball team, which produced a four-set victory over Texas in Columbus, Ohio, to capture its seventh national title.

Gray’s achievement was so impressive that she became the first freshman setter since former Stanford star Bryn Kehoe in 2004 to guide her team to a national championship, even if she still finds herself overwhelmed by the magnitude of the achievement.

“I feel like a lot of the stuff from freshman year is kind of a blur because it was all moving so fast,” Gray said. “But just knowing that I had my other freshmen on the court there with me and we had (senior middle blocker Inky Ajanaku), who was an incredible leader, and we looked at her a lot and I just felt so much confidence in her.”

Entering Saturday’s volleyball final against defending-champion Nebraska at 6 p.m. PST at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., the memories of more recent setbacks in NCAA postseason competition are much more vivid for Gray, as the junior prepares for the top-ranked Cardinal (33-1) to put a 31-match winning streak on the line against the No. 7 Cornhuskers (29-6).

Stanford suffered a five-set defeat in last year’s national semifinals to Florida, which lost to Nebraska in the final. Despite Stanford and Nebraska combining to win 12 national championships, Saturday will mark only the second time they have met in the final, the other coming in 2006 when the Cornhuskers earned a four-set victory.

Although teammate Mackenzie Little and Gray swept the top two spots in the javelin final in June at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., the Cardinal placed third in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with 51 points, just two points shy of team winner USC and one point behind runner-up Georgia.

“I think coming so close to winning in both track and field and volleyball has really pushed me this year,” Gray said. “We battled back with Florida, only to lose in the fifth set, and then similarly at NCAAs for track, we battled to put ourselves in a position to get first, only to lose in the last couple events of the meet.

“Coming so close to achieving our goal and then falling short has really motivated me to work hard every day so that we never feel that disappointment again.”

Gray is a rare All-America first-team honoree in both sports, the unique athlete who can excel in different disciplines, but demonstrate the same composure in pressure situations. She captured three Kansas 5A state volleyball titles during her career at St. James Academy, in addition to setting the state 5A javelin record of 162 feet (49.37m).

On her second throw of the NCAA javelin final June 7, Gray delivered a lifetime-best effort of 187-11 (57.29m) to move into second behind Little, who opened the competition with a 198-foot performance (60.36m) and never looked back as they became the first teammates in Division 1 championship history to take the top two spots in the event.

“Both the volleyball Final Fours and Hayward Field have been incredible atmospheres to compete in, but can also be extremely intimidating,” said Gray, who also placed 16th as a freshman in the javelin final.

“Over the years in volleyball, I have learned how to lean on my teammates and really come together during difficult moments.

“It’s a little bit different in track and field because there are times when my teammates and coach are not nearby, so I’ve learned how to self-regulate my emotions when I get nervous. Even though track and field is technically an individual sport, it hasn’t felt like it because of my incredible teammates that I can always hear cheering when I step on the runway.”

Gray will be surrounded by exceptional teammates again Saturday, including junior outside hitter and two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year Kathryn Plummer, along with senior middle blocker Tami Alade, the nation’s leading blocker at 1.88 per set.

Stanford is 15-1 in NCAA tournament competition with Gray as its setter, advancing to the program’s 16th national championship match and seeking an eighth title, which would break a tie for the all-time Division 1 record with Penn State.

Gray, who ranks second nationally in assists per set with 12.31, enters the final as one of only three Cardinal athletes to have played in all 116 sets this season. She has accumulated 1,428 assists, 164 digs, 104 blocks, 72 kills and 44 aces.

Although second place in the javelin was a pleasant surprise for Gray six months ago, following her past two team experiences in the postseason, Stanford’s floor leader is more committed than ever to being part of the group that is once again standing atop the podium Saturday night.

“Overall, I think both sports have taught me so many different lessons and offered so many incredible atmospheres to be challenged in,” Gray said. “Which is why I feel extremely excited and confident heading into the finals.”