Grant Kocher
Grant Kocher was one of the founding players for the Behrend men’s volleyball team from 2011-14, playing three season for the Lions. He was a two-time All-Conference selection. Kocher graduated with the record for most kills (672) and currently ranks sixth. His junior year, he was ranked nationally for points per set and kills per set as Kocher reached 500 career kills and registered a team-best 289 kills in 29 matches.
Kocher competed at Thiel his freshman year. It is hard to imagine Kocher could have known the immeasurable impact he was about to make in the next three years at Behrend.
Kocher led the team in kills and digs his sophomore year. He amassed 242 kills and 119 digs, while ranking second in blocks (46) and service aces. Kocher averaged 2.57 kills per set and 3.0 points per set to help the Lions reach 10 wins in their inaugural season, including a victory over NYU the No. 6 team in the country in the UVC playoffs.
Kocher became one of the most feared attackers in the AMCC. The junior was nationally ranked for points per set and was in the Top 10 in four categories in the conference. This season, Kocher reached 500 kills for his career thanks to a team-best 289 kills over 29 matches. He also led in digs (154) and was second in blocks (67), earning his first All-Conference honors on the second team.
Explosive power and clutch performances defined Kocher. His senior year, Kocher recorded the programs single-match kills record with 26 on January 27, 2013 against Thiel. In his 67 sets played, he recorded 141 kills, 94 digs and 31 blocks. Kocher repeated on the All-AMCC Second Team. In addition to ranking sixth all-time in kills, he currently ranks third in kills per set (2.62), sixth in points (3.1) is eight in solo blocks (35) and 10th in total blocks (143).
Kocher was instrumental in helping the team qualifying for the UVC playoffs each season, while improving the Lions overall record all three years and paving the way for Behrend to make its first ECAC appearance in 2015.