TAMPA, Fla. — Mallori and Mackenzi Grey have been involved in sports all their lives. 

What You Need To Know

  • Mallori and Mackenzi are fraternal twins

  • They've both competed alongside each other since they were eight

  • They are credits shy of also graduating with their A.A. from College of Central Florida

  • Mom, Wanda Grey also coached the girls in volleyball

They started playing volleyball, a sport their mother coached. 

Mom, Wanda Grey told Spectrum Sports 360's Katya Guillaume, “At a young age, they could do something that maybe some of the others couldn’t do right away just because I think they were in the gym and saw it and had a ball in their hands often.”

Grey saw their potential early on.

“They would be the kids on the side while the older kids are playing in a tournament, get a group of other kids to play,” she said.  

The girls have almost always played the same sport, and were on the same team, but never compete against each other until this year. 

 

Mallori said, “The only thing we actually competed in this year was, we’re in the same class for weightlifting.”

They compete in the 129-weight class. 

Weightlifting is a sport they just recently got into but already found great success.

“Coach Rausch pushed us to do weightlifting because it would help with our vertical in volleyball and help overall strength,” Mallori added.

Indeed, the girls found improvement in their other sports after taking on weightlifting. 

They are also involved in track and field together, another sport they recently picked up. 

Lecanto's track and field coach, Philip La Barbara said, “They both do long and triple, Mal does high. A lot of that goes with them playing volleyball.”

Mallori and Mackenzi do not know of a time when they weren’t competing together, but that’s about to change.

On top of all the sports they are involved in, they are a few credits shy of obtaining their associate degree from the College of Central Florida.

Mackenzi said, “I got my core classes like English and Math out the way last year so this year I’ve been able to take some intro to teaching classes.”

Mallori added, “I’m currently undecided but I’m leaning towards something on the route of biology. I really like Marine Biology and Wildlife Conservation.”

The girls will separate after graduation.

Mackenzi will focus on education in this next chapter while Mallori will go back to her first love volleyball, while obtaining her degree.