Grome Prepared for Even Bigger Leadership Role in 2024
In volleyball, setters are natural leaders on the floor due to their responsibilities. For Kentucky, Emma Grome has filled the setter role for the last three seasons.
The leadership role she has filled for the Cats since 2021 will be intensified this season, Grome’s senior campaign. Does Grome feel that the way she leads will be different this season?
“Yeah, I would say it does,” Grome said. “Especially, I feel I’ve been more of a leader on the court the past couple of years and slowly, I’ve found my voice more. Now that we lost some of our best leaders on the team like (Azhani Tealer), other people have to step up and that falls on the senior class. Just finding my way to be a leader on the court still, but then be more of a vocal leader as well.”
With the loss of Tealer and others, Grome will be even more in the leadership role this season. It’s not a role she’s completely comfortable with, but one she’s growing into.
“It’s just forcing yourself to do it because you don’t have the people above you to be the ones to say the important things,” Grome said. “So now, if I don’t say it, it’s not going to get said.”
Kentucky has won seven consecutive Southeastern Conference volleyball titles, a streak the Cats will try to extend this season. But the addition of defending national champion Texas will make that task more difficult. Grome believes that having a team like the Longhorns in the league will make the Cats work that much harder.
“I feel like it’s really cool having two new teams in the league. I feel like that brings it up a notch,” Grome said. “But I feel like, in terms of approach, we’re not going to approach it any different. We have the same goal every year, we want to win the SEC and we know that’s going to take a lot of hard work.”
Grome believes that the Cats’ trip to Japan is already paying dividends this fall.
“It was really cool. Definitely a different experience than any of us has ever had,” Grome said. “I think playing wise, it was really good for us. The first couple of days of preseason, this is the best we’ve looked any year that I’ve been here and I really think that does come from going to Japan because we had time to train and then we got some game experience there with the new team. I think that just really helped our pieces fit together and get a head start on the season.”
With this being her last season at UK, what is Grome most looking forward to experiencing?
“I’m just looking forward to playing with this team,” Grome said. “The vibes in the gym are good, the energy is high. I’m just excited to see the athleticism, depth and talent on this team and how we progress throughout the year.”
With Grome taking on an even bigger leadership role, the Cats are in good hands.
