The Archbishop Mitty Monarchs are one win away from going wire-to-wire as the top team in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings as they face Redlands East Valley in the California Division II state championships this weekend.
While talented hitters like Rachel Williams and Shannon Fleming have been a big part of the Monarchs’ success along with setter Joan Caloiaro, senior outside hitter Kristina Graven has been every bit as crucial. You just won’t hear her admit to that.
"Kristina is extremely humble and hardworking," said Mitty coach Bret Almazan-Cezar, who was recently named the national coach of the year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. "She has a high level of integrity and a strong moral center. It’s rare to have a student-athlete who is so well-mannered and respectful of everyone and everything around her. She just so happens to be incredible at a game she plays for fun." 
Kristina Graven, Archbishop Mitty
Photo by Brian Jackson
Like her coach and four of her teammates, Graven earned All-American first-team honors from the AVCA. Williams was also a first-team honoree while Caloiaro was a second-team pick and Fleming and Ryan Shaffer were honorable mentions.
Besides racking up 362 kills, good for second on the team behind Williams (368), Graven also has 30 aces, 20 blocks and 243 digs. She led the Monarchs with 16 kills in the Central Coast Section championship match against Palo Alto and 36 kills during Mitty’s three NorCal Regional victories.
Yet for all of her big games and outstanding efforts this year, it was a celebration with her teammates that Graven lists as her most memorable moment on the court.
"Our dogpile at the end after winning state has been my most memorable moment," Graven said. "It was such an exciting moment to actually win at state and we had worked really hard for it."
Graven also notes that the Monarchs have worked hard this year toward repeating as state champions. Besides sporting a 38-0 record and a No. 1 ranking in the Xcellent 25 National Rankings, Mitty has won several big tournaments, including their own tournament and the Durango Classic in September and the Santa Barbara Tournament in October.
"Our goal is to win another state championship and be the best team we can be," Graven said.
Almazan-Cezar agrees that Graven works hard at her craft.
"No one is more focused on the task at hand. Her expectation of herself is unsurpassed," he said. "She grows daily at this game and has always been great."
Graven began playing volleyball at the urging of her father, who took her in for tryouts at a young age. After a little guidance from dad in the fundamentals of the game, Graven made the team and has been playing the sport ever since.
"My parents have always supported me in whatever I wanted to do," Graven said. "They help me keep everything in perspective and realize what is really important."
Graven will continue her volleyball career at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo next year.
"I am really excited for college volleyball," she said. "I always remember watching college players and thinking they were amazing. I want to improve as a player and be able to play at that level."
Graven enjoyed the recruiting process and made sure she took her time in making her decision.
"It has been fun. It was cool to see what all the colleges are like," she said. "The hardest part of choosing for me was figuring out what type of coach I wanted and deciding what size school I wanted to attend.
Volleyball has been a way of life for Graven for the past four years at Mitty. She’s been a member of the varsity since her freshman year and a starter since her sophomore year. While the competition and the championships have been memorable, those things aren’t what Graven will cherish most about her time with the Monarchs.
"I think the relationships you build with people and the great friendships I have gotten out of it are what I like best about playing high school volleyball," she said.
Graven and the Monarchs will attempt to defend their state championship against Redlands East Valley at the Bren Center at U.C. Irvine on Saturday at 5 p.m.
