Player Bio: Miki Groppi

  Miki Groppi
Miki Groppi
Player Profile
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Modena, Italy
High School:
ITAS Francesco Selmi
Height:
6-4
Position:
Setter
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As a Junior in 2008: Stands No.3 on Stanford all-time career assist list in the rally-scoring era (since 2001) with 1,077 ... played in nine matches, starting four ... served as backup to All-America Kawika Shoji, and often was brought in when Shoji shifted into a hitting position ... had 69 assists in a five-game victory over Ball State Feb. 2 ... had 57 assists in a start at Pacific Feb. 15 ... averaged 11.19 assists per set ... had 30 assists and five blocks off the bench against UC Santa Cruz Jan. 15.

As a Sophomore in 2007: Played in 42 games, setting collegiate season bests of 458 assists and 44 digs ... had 20 kills and hit 43 percent.

As a Freshman in 2006: Played in 41 games with 384 assists ... had 49 digs and a 1.20 dig per set average ... believed to be the first Italian to play NCAA Division I men's volleyball.

High School/Club: A setter and outside hitter for Casa Modena, Audax Casinalbo, and Universal Carpi clubs ... fifth in Serie B2 with Universal Carpi in 2005 ... won Serie C championship with Casa Modena in 2003 ... played for the Italian youth national team in 2001-02 ... won the Italian under-15 title with Casa Modena in 2001 ... graduated from Instituto Tecnico per Attivita Sociali Francesco Selmi of Modena, scoring 100 percent on his final examination.

Personal: Son of Claudio Groppi and Mercedes Gonzales ... mother was a setter for the Peruvian team in the 1968 Mexico City and 1976 Montreal Olympics ... she also played for the Tucson Sky of the International Volleyball Association, a coed professional league that existed in the late 1970s ... hometown of Modena has a history dating back to the third century B.C. and is best known as "The Capital of Engines," with the factories of sports car makers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati located there ... international relations major ... hobbies include listening to music, talking to people and traveling.