Knox College Athletics

Mary (Whiteside) Groll was an exceptional all-around member of the Knox volleyball team. She graduated in 1992.

Mary was a team leader in hitting percentage, digs, passing percentage, kills, and block assists in her time on the volleyball team. She returned from a significant injury early in her career to become one of the strongest members of the team. Her ability to play multiple positions and be among the leaders in a wide variety of categories made her an extremely valuable asset on the court.

Mary was named to the All-Midwest Conference team in 1990 and 1991. She was also a team captain in 1990 and 1991, and co-Most Valuable Team Member in 1990. She helped lead the team to the semifinals and a fourth place finish at the Midwest Conference Volleyball Tournament in 1990 and 1991. The team also finished second to St. Norbert in 1989 in the Championship Pool.

"In my 15 years of coaching volleyball at Knox, Mary was the best all-around player," said former head coach Kathy Wagoner. "She was very humble about her skills and was a team leader. Mary raised the level of play of the entire team as she was a great team captain who led by example."

After graduation, Mary went on to The Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University and the Graduate Medical Education Pediatrics Residency Program at University of Chicago. She worked in Pediatrics after receiving her M.D. and is currently the Chair and Program Director of Physician Assistant Studies at North Central College.