A little vacation and a lot of successful sports ventures highlighted summer break for three top metro-area athletes.

Helping Prior Lake to a runner-up finish at the Class 3A volleyball state tournament was just the beginning of some memorable months on the court for CC McGraw.

She played libero for a Minnesota Select 18-1 club team that won the USA Volleyball national championship. Her AAU Junior Olympic team placed second at nationals. McGraw, who has committed to the Gophers, earned all-tournament honors both times.

Just a junior this fall, McGraw will join three seniors as captains, “making sure everyone is keeping focused, accountable and ready to work,” McGraw said.

Practicing volleyball is more a labor of love than work for McGraw.

“I’ll go on walks with my family, and I’ll have a volleyball in my hands,” she said. “I’ll be setting the ball to myself and my family will say, ‘Really? Do you ever stop?’ ”

Yes, she did get away this summer. Trips to the lake with friends and Yellowstone National Park gave McGraw opportunities to recharge.

To improve her game, McGraw trained for a week at a Gophers volleyball camp. An attendee since she was an eighth-grader, McGraw said the feeling is different now that she committed to the program.

“I just feel more comfortable, and it’s been fun getting to know future teammates,” she said.