Pittsburgh athletes of the week: Quaker Valley’s Landon Grant, NA’s Abby Miller

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, November 15, 2017 | 4:57 PM

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Landon Grant

School: Quaker Valley

Class: Senior

Sport: Soccer

Claim to fame: Grant scored both goals in the Quakers' 2-1 PIAA Class AA quarterfinal win over Beaver on Saturday. With 36 goals this season, Grant has led Quaker Valley to a 22-2 record, Section 4-AA title and WPIAL runner-up finish. Grant also scored in a semifinal win on Tuesday to propel Quaker Valley to the PIAA title game. The senior also is the placekicker for the Quakers' football team, which is set to face Aliquippa for the WPIAL Class 3A championship on Saturday.

How were you able to rebound from the loss in the WPIAL championship to make your state playoff run?

It was definitely tough. That was a game all of us definitely wanted a lot, so emotions were really high after that game. … I think coach (Andrew) Marshall did a really good job of just collecting us back together. … I think the next couple of trainings that followed were really important, and I think that coach did a great job of getting us organized again and just getting our minds focused for the next tournament.

What's it been like to be a part of two teams with so much success this fall?

It's been spectacular. We're so fortunate to have such good programs here at Quaker Valley, so to be part of two teams that are just doing pretty well this year, it's definitely a blessing to be a part of that.

What are your plans for next year?

I haven't decided yet, but I'm still working out for a couple colleges. I may even go overseas to play somewhere in England, so there's still some things I'm working out right now.

How did you first start playing soccer?

I was probably 5 years old, and I played at the Sewickley YMCA; that's where all of my older siblings played and it was the Sunday mornings after church. I would go there and play, and my family would all come and watch. That's always been a tradition for us.

What's your favorite class?

BC calculus. It's one of the hardest math courses in the school, but I really enjoy it. The teacher is awesome, definitely my favorite ever. I've always been a math guy, and just going into the year I knew this would be the hardest course I've ever taken, and I really like that challenge.

Abby Miller

School: North Allegheny

Class: Sophomore

Sport: Volleyball

Claim to fame: The first team all-WPIAL selection registered 42 assists, two aces, two kills and one block, as the WPIAL-champion Tigers defeated section rival Seneca Valley, 3-0, in the PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinals Saturday. With a 3-2 win over Garnet Valley on Tuesday, North Allegheny advanced to the state championship game against Bishop Shanahan on Saturday.

What led to your success in your quarterfinal win?

Going into it, having it be our third time playing Seneca Valley, we knew what they were going to do, and we knew that we just had to execute on our side. We were focused more on doing what we know we can do.

What's it like to play on a team that's loaded with all-WPIAL players?

It's just great having so many options for hitters and whenever I set the ball I know that whatever comes out of their hit is going to be really good. It's great to be able to count on my teammates and, in the back row, the passing's great so I know that I can expect a good pass no matter what.

What is it like having your mom as the team's head coach?

I really like having her as a coach. We have a good relationship, and it's always fun because we can talk about different strategies and things, not just at practice, but at home, too. I think it's helpful.

What's been the key to your team's playoff run?

I think serve-receive is the main goal, because our middles are a big part of our offense, and to keep them involved, the pass has to be all the way up to the net, so we've really worked serve-receive and digging balls all the way up to the net.

What's the last movie you saw and how many stars would you rate it?

“Thor Ragnarok.” I would give it a five out of five because it's really funny, and I love the super hero movies so I really liked it.

What's your favorite class?

Chemistry. I really like my teacher, I like my classmates and my lab partner happens to be one of the girls on the team. … I just enjoy the class because it's a lot of math-related stuff, which I also like.

— Alex Oltmanns

Tags: North Allegheny, Quaker Valley