LBCC Volleyball – Leaving a Legacy: Player Spotlight with Grace Boeder
Undeterred, unrelenting, undefeated. Following three years of almost nothing but winning, the Linn-Benton volleyball team captured their third consecutive Northwest Athletic Conference title and completed their 36-0 season on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Leading the charge was sophomore Grace Boeder, MVP of the NWAC Championship Tournament, NWAC Player of the Year and an All-American to boot, if not to spike.
Boeder, a business major who intends to take her talents to Corban University to study business as well as continue playing volleyball, is an Albany native. She arrived on campus to join the Roadrunners as the defending champions of the NWAC. In response to receiving the torch from a title-winning team as a freshman at LB, Boeder has helped add another two trophies to the college’s collection and now looks to pass on the torch to the next generation of volleyball players at the school.
Boeder led the Roadrunners in both points per set and blocks per set in 2023, with 3.2 and 0.84, respectively. She was a silent leader, encouraging her teammates to stay focused with her presence and demeanor. Boeder aimed to instill confidence into her teammates while inspiring them to push themselves to their best performance. Her personal success is underlied by a dedication to excellence that is evidenced in her attitude.
With another championship banner hanging on the Activity Center’s wall, it seems to have worked.
A strong future candidate for Linn-Benton’s Athletic Hall of Fame, Boeder has left an indelible mark on the college with her leadership and winning ways.
The Commuter interviewed Boeder so as to record in the school’s history an account of the person behind the achievements, behind the awards and at the forefront of the distinction that she has helped to bring to campus.
You’ve won another title AND gone undefeated. How does it feel to repeat? To be undefeated?
It feels pretty amazing, and so unreal! It makes me incredibly proud of my teammates and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this amazing experience and program. I give kudos to [Coach Jayme Frazier] for being such an amazing coach and mentor. She deserves this three-peat and many more.
What were your emotions when you won the final point and the season was completed?
All I could think was, “Wow, we did it. Again.” I was in shock, excited, it was unreal. There were two very different directions the season could have gone, especially with having 10 freshmen and five sophomores. And I’m so happy with the path we took. We worked so hard every single day to get to that point. I loved our resilience and wanted us to push each other and make each other better.
Linn-Benton has won its third consecutive NWAC title. How do you plan to pass the program on to the next generation of players?
I think a lot of them felt the high expectations I put on them, they all knew I wasn’t there to mess around. Of course we had fun times, but we also were competitive whilst having fun. I’m also highly competitive, so I feel like that will carry with them into next year. I was a silent leader, I didn’t need to give speeches to let people know that my presence was there. As long as I was calm and confident on the court, I knew my teammates followed and I knew we had a mutual trust that we were going to get the job done.
You were named an American Volleyball Coaches Association First Team All American. What are your reflections on that as your two-year career comes to a close?
In the most humble way to say this… I’ve worked my butt off to be where I am today. I am so grateful to my parents for giving me the opportunity to dedicate a lot of mine and their time to this sport, and I thank them for all of their support. I thank Jayme for seeing my potential and helping guide and pushing me to become a better player, teammate, student, and person. And I’m especially grateful to God. My faith and spiritual path is very important to me and keeps me centered and reminds me that my self-worth is not defined by my sport but it is defined by Him. He has guided my path and has continually pushed me, as the phrase goes “God gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers.” I resonate with this phrase, because He has challenged me and put me in some difficult learning lessons, but I’m grateful for them, because I wouldn’t be who I am without those setbacks and challenges.
You were also the NWAC South Player of the Year and MVP of the NWAC Championship Tournament. What do these accomplishments mean to you, personally?
These accolades are really rewarding. They are a symbol of a “job well done” (as Jayme would say) and it feels good. It feels good to be noticed for the hard work I’ve put in over the years and I could not be more grateful for receiving them.
Is there any moment during the year that inspired you to put in the effort to win these awards or pursue excellence?
During pre-season, when I saw how hard working the freshman class was, I knew it was going to be a good season. They came in and immediately started pushing the sophomores, because of how they came in and just got work done. I loved having the other middles on my heels all season, I know we were constantly pushing each other and supporting one another.
Do you have any plans for volleyball after LB?
I plan to join Corban University this 2024 Spring Semester.
What is your philosophy in terms of preparation?
In August, for pre-season we will do daily doubles, with skill-specific sessions with setters, close to daily workouts, and a couple of mile runs to help with endurance. As challenging as all of this is mentally and physically for 2-3 weeks straight, it all teaches you how much more your body is capable of. Mental toughness is so important especially in the moments when you think you can’t but in reality you can, it’s just hard.
In the last two years, your record is 70-1; what do you feel made these teams so successful in terms of mindset and execution?
We trusted each other, we communicated effectively and were very resilient, especially when there was pushback from other teams. We knew there was (and still is) a target on our backs. We were all very competitive and were constantly pushing each other. Whether it be school, practice, weight room, we were always bettering one another. We also had the mindset, “One match, one set, one point, one mission.” And we stuck to it, and it has worked pretty well the last three years.
What skill did you build most this year?
Mentally: my leadership skills, I feel much more confident as a person, and am able to communicate through my actions and body language a lot better than I could last year. I was put in a challenging spot as a sophomore with 10 freshmen. They needed someone that understood the awkward spot they were in as freshman, but also someone to keep them focused and on task. I always wanted to see them succeed and was encouraging and pushing them to be overall better, not just in a volleyball aspect.
What was your favorite moment from the season?
My favorite moment was during one of our pre-season tournaments in Washington, and we were in a hotel room, just talking about our lives, experiences, hardships, and lots of funny stories. We were all busting up laughing until our cheeks hurt and it was the closest I have ever felt with my teammates on any team I’ve ever been on.
Is there a moment during the season that you feel brought the team together?
When we were on the charter bus during [the NWAC tournament] and we were dancing to music and having a great time in the back of the bus. It was so much fun to see and be a part of this group of goofy girls dancing and laughing together.
In her time at Linn-Benton Community College, Grace Boeder has been all that Coach Frazier and Roadrunner nation hoped that she could be, and more. With her accomplishments and leadership, the Linn-Benton sophomore leaves big shoes to fill. The school can only hope that those who follow in Boeder’s footsteps are as dedicated, humble, hardworking, and they represent the school with the same pride, respect and dignity that Grace Boeder has every time she has stepped on the campus and on the court.
At-a-glance: Daughter of Tracy and Christy Boeder; little sister to three older siblings; aunt to three nephews and another baby on the way; dog and cat mom.
Hometown: Albany, OR
Major: Business
Age: 20
Other Interests: “My faith, reading, hiking, photography, doing my nails, elite house cleaner, lover of cats and dogs, working out, Netflix, and I love baking.”
Years at LBCC: Two
