Can you dig it? Grace Fu sure can!

Grace Fu’s senior night was more than meets the eye –it was a moment destined for the record books.

With only six digs left to hit 1,000, in a thrilling win over Parkway North, Fu, senior libero for the Patriot volleyball team finally achieved her 1000th career dig on Senior Night, Oct. 17. The crowd filled with “1000” signs erupted, while fans and teammates ran around the court with electric energy to support their fellow Patriot. 

Reaching 1000 digs is no small feat in volleyball. It requires incredible attention to detail, quick reflexes, and, most of all, dedication to the game, according to players like senior teammate Kennedy Cotton. 

“Grace is one of the most disciplined players I’ve ever coached – she doesn’t waste time… She also handles mistakes with an incredible amount of “grace” (ha, fitting),” Coach Shannon Lesko said.  “Whenever she makes an error on the court, I know that her very next play will be a success. She’s hard on herself, but in a way that makes herself better, not in a way that drags her or the team down.” 

Fu’s volleyball journey started when she was eight years old, and her love for volleyball became quickly evident, according to junior teammate Sam McHale. 

“She is always motivated at practice and at games, always being the first in and out of the gym, “ McHale said.

This season, Fu is at the top of the St. Louis area in defensive stats averaging 4.53 digs per set, over 76 sets; a total of 344. That is the most digs per season she has had, surpassing her junior year where she had 293 digs.

McHale believes Fu’s legacy will leave a lasting impact on the rest of the team. 

“Grace’s accomplishment made many players in our program realize the attainability of these amazing goals, but only with the hard work that she showed,” she said. 

Cotton also shared how Grace’s commitment inspires the whole team on the court. 

“To me, Grace stands out in every game. The effort she puts in to get a ball up makes us want the point even more,” she said.

For Fu, this milestone was not only exciting but humbling as well. 

“I was so excited! The JV and freshman players were behind me counting down with signs, and I almost couldn’t believe it because it was also senior night. It couldn’t have been more perfect,” said Fu.

However, despite everyone’s excitement, Fu said the actual 1000th dig was anticlimactic.

 “It was a pretty easy, unexciting dig, but it turned into such a fun and happy moment when everyone started cheering anyway,” Fu said. 

As Fu reflects on her volleyball career at South, she is quick to thank everyone who has helped her along the way,

 “I couldn’t have done anything without my coaches. Ashley [Sheets] always made sure that Hudl (the team’s website for videoing games) was filming, and Shannon [Lesko] ensured the stats were always updated and accurate. Their constant support throughout my time in the program is something I’ll never forget,” Fu said. 

Fu continued by thanking her parents.

 “I also couldn’t have been where I am today without my parents. From countless days of driving me to practice, always making sure I had a Gatorade before games, to my mom capturing every moment with pictures and my dad taking videos—seriously, they’ve been the best support,” she said. 

And last but not least, she talked about her teammates. 

  “My teammates. I have made so many new friendships through volleyball and those friendships will last for a lifetime. I even still talk to my friends who I played club with 3 years ago!” she said

Fu ended her high school career with 1025 digs, leading her team every year except her freshman year when she was third. 

“Grace has always been a leader. She was a team captain as a sophomore, junior, and senior. But over her four years, she has evolved into a better and more self-aware leader,” Coach Lesko said.

Fu said she takes a lot of pride in being a three-year captain and when asked about what she wants to remind them of even after she’s gone, she said, “Don’t take games or practices for granted, even though there are so many. Really enjoy the process and work hard every day.”