Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
Dig R Knights: Tina Grkovic
Nov 18 | Women's Volleyball
Traveling to a new country, a new school and a new team could be considered a daunting task for an incoming freshman. For newcomer Tina Grkovic, however, those are experiences she has already had multiple times.
"One of the first things my coach Caitlin (Schweihofer) told me was that there would be an adjustment, but I'm already kind of used to that," said Grkovic of her arrival at Rutgers. "I've moved a lot. I'm always open to new cultures and I really love learning about them. It's something I'm passionate about."
Born in Belgrade, Serbia to immigrants from Kosovo, Grkovic has spent much of her life watching her father, Nenad, travel around the world with the United Nation's World Food Programme, including stops in Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen.
"When I was about nine, that's when I experienced a new culture for the first time," Grkovic said of her family joining her father while working in Sudan.
Four years later, the Grkovic's were on the move again with a transfer to Italy and where Tina – Kristina only if you are angry – started playing volleyball as well.
"At first, I hated it," the middle blocker recalled. "My mom dragged me. I started playing on an Italian team and I didn't speak Italian so that was really hard at first. My coach used to get angry because I didn't understand what he was saying."
While it was a bumpy start for Grkovic in Italy, the language and the sport came together resulting in two U16 and two U18 Female National Finals of Italy Championships.
"My favorite memory is winning nationals," she remembered. "Right before COVID, I think I played my best. The team that I played on grew up together and we finally got to the top. It was like a family experience."
The family experience is something she believes can happen as well during her career "On The Banks.".
"I definitely wanted to come to America," Grkovic said of advancing her career. "First, because in Europe, you can't play and study at the same time whereas here you can. Rutgers also has really good academics, so I thought it was a great opportunity. Then the location of Rutgers is great. It's near New York, but not in the city. Also, a big reason was the Big Ten. I wanted to play in a good conference."
While the world looks a little different than when she first committed to play for the Scarlet Knights, it's the family-like atmosphere that has helped Grkovic settle in at Rutgers in these unprecedented times. From the coaching staff and each of their unique personalities that make her enjoy practice every day and push her to her best to her teammates who are there for her on and off the court, all have made Grkovic feel right at home.
"Because of my roommate, the other international players and the other freshmen, we've kind of connected on this," she mentioned of the adjustment. "We are getting through this together and it's becoming easier as we're getting to know each other better and spending more time together."
"My teammates are really nice," continued Grkovic, who has developed a bond with senior right side hitter Beka Kojadinovic, a fellow Serbian on the roster. "She's always helping me and was the one that helped me adjust the most. It's like having a big sister on the team."
Grkovic was also quick to praise the many on the team behind the team especially director of operations Emily Rochefort with the logistics of moving to a new country, athletic trainer Jenn Stautz for keeping her healthy and strength coach Will Otto in her improvement in her conditioning.
While arriving at Rutgers meant it was time for the next step in her volleyball career, Grkovic is getting the education needed for the next step in her future.
"I want to I want to strive towards the business school to work in business," she stated. "I want to do what my parents do. They both work for the UN in very humanitarian jobs."
The UN's WFP, which Grkovic's parents work for, was awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize recognizing its efforts to combat hunger and contributing to better conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas. Additionally, Grkovic's father has won three Best Transport Achievement Awards from Fleet Forum, a non-profit organization inspiring better, safer and more effective transport around the world, for his work with the program.
"I want to follow in their footsteps and do something towards humanitarian work and help people," she said of her future. "As long as I can help some, it's worth it."
In the meantime, Grkovic will be helping the Scarlet Knights on the court.
"I want to be really reliable the court," she said of her goals. "I want the setter to feel like she can give me the ball and not worry. As a team, we want to try and be consistent and win as many matches as we can."
As Grkovic continues to acclimate to life in New Jersey and playing in the nation's best conference, there is one thing this freshman who has experienced many cultures appreciates.
"I really like that Americans enjoy the other cultures of people that are not from here," she said. "They really like knowing where you're from and that's really nice."
For previous stories in the Rutgers Volleyball's Dig R Knights Series:
- RU -
"One of the first things my coach Caitlin (Schweihofer) told me was that there would be an adjustment, but I'm already kind of used to that," said Grkovic of her arrival at Rutgers. "I've moved a lot. I'm always open to new cultures and I really love learning about them. It's something I'm passionate about."
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Born in Belgrade, Serbia to immigrants from Kosovo, Grkovic has spent much of her life watching her father, Nenad, travel around the world with the United Nation's World Food Programme, including stops in Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen.
"When I was about nine, that's when I experienced a new culture for the first time," Grkovic said of her family joining her father while working in Sudan.
Four years later, the Grkovic's were on the move again with a transfer to Italy and where Tina – Kristina only if you are angry – started playing volleyball as well.
"At first, I hated it," the middle blocker recalled. "My mom dragged me. I started playing on an Italian team and I didn't speak Italian so that was really hard at first. My coach used to get angry because I didn't understand what he was saying."
While it was a bumpy start for Grkovic in Italy, the language and the sport came together resulting in two U16 and two U18 Female National Finals of Italy Championships.
"My favorite memory is winning nationals," she remembered. "Right before COVID, I think I played my best. The team that I played on grew up together and we finally got to the top. It was like a family experience."
The family experience is something she believes can happen as well during her career "On The Banks.".
"I definitely wanted to come to America," Grkovic said of advancing her career. "First, because in Europe, you can't play and study at the same time whereas here you can. Rutgers also has really good academics, so I thought it was a great opportunity. Then the location of Rutgers is great. It's near New York, but not in the city. Also, a big reason was the Big Ten. I wanted to play in a good conference."
While the world looks a little different than when she first committed to play for the Scarlet Knights, it's the family-like atmosphere that has helped Grkovic settle in at Rutgers in these unprecedented times. From the coaching staff and each of their unique personalities that make her enjoy practice every day and push her to her best to her teammates who are there for her on and off the court, all have made Grkovic feel right at home.
"Because of my roommate, the other international players and the other freshmen, we've kind of connected on this," she mentioned of the adjustment. "We are getting through this together and it's becoming easier as we're getting to know each other better and spending more time together."
"My teammates are really nice," continued Grkovic, who has developed a bond with senior right side hitter Beka Kojadinovic, a fellow Serbian on the roster. "She's always helping me and was the one that helped me adjust the most. It's like having a big sister on the team."
Grkovic was also quick to praise the many on the team behind the team especially director of operations Emily Rochefort with the logistics of moving to a new country, athletic trainer Jenn Stautz for keeping her healthy and strength coach Will Otto in her improvement in her conditioning.
While arriving at Rutgers meant it was time for the next step in her volleyball career, Grkovic is getting the education needed for the next step in her future.
"I want to I want to strive towards the business school to work in business," she stated. "I want to do what my parents do. They both work for the UN in very humanitarian jobs."
The UN's WFP, which Grkovic's parents work for, was awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize recognizing its efforts to combat hunger and contributing to better conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas. Additionally, Grkovic's father has won three Best Transport Achievement Awards from Fleet Forum, a non-profit organization inspiring better, safer and more effective transport around the world, for his work with the program.
"I want to follow in their footsteps and do something towards humanitarian work and help people," she said of her future. "As long as I can help some, it's worth it."
In the meantime, Grkovic will be helping the Scarlet Knights on the court.
"I want to be really reliable the court," she said of her goals. "I want the setter to feel like she can give me the ball and not worry. As a team, we want to try and be consistent and win as many matches as we can."
As Grkovic continues to acclimate to life in New Jersey and playing in the nation's best conference, there is one thing this freshman who has experienced many cultures appreciates.
"I really like that Americans enjoy the other cultures of people that are not from here," she said. "They really like knowing where you're from and that's really nice."
For previous stories in the Rutgers Volleyball's Dig R Knights Series:
- Senior right side hitter - Beka Kojadinovic
- Senior right side hitter - Kamila Cieslik
- Junior outside hitter - Anastasiia Maksimova
- Senior outside hitter - Yana Kamshilina
- Junior setter - Inna Balyko
- Senior libero - Mary Kate Painter
- Graduate Student middle blocker - Shealyn McNamara
- Redshirt Freshman setter - Lauren DeLo
- Freshman libero - Madyson Chitty
- RU -
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