When she was younger, Grace Novacek had no aspirations to follow in the footsteps of her athletic family members. With a championship pole vaulter as a father, an NFL star tight end for an uncle and sisters who thrived in their sports, Grace Novacek dreamed of a different type of stardom.

While her older twin sisters were doing great things on the athletic fields, Grace was most at home on the stage in the family garage, where she enjoyed putting on plays.

"When I was younger I wanted to act and stuff," Grace said. "I was the creative one. I never wanted to play sports. I didn't want to be like my sisters. I was always interested in other things."

But in a family where sports are so important, Grace eventually came around. She had heard stories of her father, Jim, and his track and field exploits. And she was well aware that her uncle Jay won three Super Bowl rings with the Dallas Cowboys.

Jim Novacek force-fed her softball for seven years, but Grace quit because she thought it was "boring." It wasn't until she watched sister Becky compete in a national Junior Olympic track and field event that she was motivated to make athletics an important part of her life.

Becky and Joyce were stars at Hopewell High School. In the spring of 2007, Becky became the first athlete to win three PIAA gold medals in three sports. She won gold in the high jump and in basketball and volleyball and earned a volleyball scholarship to the University of Dayton. Joyce also earned gold medals in basketball and volleyball. She is a sophomore basketball player at Bucknell University.

Grace, who stands 6 feet 3 inches tall, has found her niche on the successful Hopewell volleyball team. A senior, Grace is a middle hitter on a team that hopes to win a sixth WPIAL championship in seven years this fall.

"I just like volleyball a lot better [than other sports]," Grace said. "In volleyball, you can pass and be creative. You can tip the ball. You can be fancy with it. I like volleyball because I can use my creativity."

Hopewell coach Terry Borkovic said Grace is vastly different from her sisters, but she has managed to maintain the family tradition.

"She has worked really hard to create her own identity," Borkovic said. "From the outside, there is this public perception. They look at the Novaceks as the athletic family at Hopewell. She has worked extremely hard to keep that legacy up."

Grace wears her work ethic as a badge of honor. She marvels at her sisters' athletic ability and is driven by their accomplishments.

"In high school, Joyce and Becky were so athletic," Grace said. "Becky was just born like that. When she was 4 she was doing one-handed cartwheels in the back yard. I was never like that.

"Joyce motivated me because I saw her work really hard. I know I have to work really hard, too. It's fun trying to do what they do. There is pressure to be as good as them. But you have to do what you love doing. I want to follow in their footsteps, but I want to do it in something I love. And I love volleyball."