UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State’s Gillian Grimes was selected by the San Diego Mojo in the second round of the Major League Volleyball (MLV) Draft on Monday. The senior libero was the 12th overall pick.
Grimes joins a Mojo team that is coached by former Penn State setter Alisha Glass, a three-time National Champion and three-time All-American for the Nittany Lions from 2006-09. She is in her first year as the head coach after playing two seasons in the league with the Vegas Thrill.
Grimes was the first libero selected in the MLV Draft, which had four rounds of eight picks for a total of 32 selections.
A mainstay in the Penn State lineup for four seasons, Grimes has started 92 consecutive matches at libero and ranks fourth in program history with 1,587 career digs. She was outstanding last season while helping the Nittany Lions win NCAA and Big Ten titles, earning All-Big Ten recognition and a spot on the NCAA Regional and NCAA Championship All-Tournament Teams. She had 25 digs in a reverse-sweep 3-2 win over Nebraska in the National Semifinal match and added 16 in a 3-1 win over Louisville in the National Championship.
Grimes joins five former Penn State players currently in Major League Volleyball -- Mac Podraza (Atlanta Vibe), Megan Lush (Columbus Fury), Kaitlyn Hord (Dallas Pulse), Kendall White (Dallas Pulse) and Camryn Hannah (Indy Ignite).
The 2026 MLV season opens on Jan. 8 when the Mojo take on the Omaha Supernovas.