Three Cardinals named to North Iowa Conference volleyball teams

  The Garner-Hayfield/Ventura volleyball team had three girls named to North Iowa Conference teams for their volleyball performances this season.

Mackenzie Van Gerpen, a sophomore, was named to the First Team as an outside hitter.  Hannah Lau, a sophomore middle blocker, was named to the Second Team.  Mallory Van Oort, a senior, earned Honorable Mention recognition as libero.

Van Gerpen worked hard to earn her First Team honor.  She led the team in kills with 131 for the year in conference action.  She was second on the team in total digs with 88.  She had 12 ace serves for the season and served at .926 efficiency.  She also had 18 blocks.

“Mackenzie is an all-around volleyball player.  She is a smart offensive player with her aggressive pushes to deep corners and her ability to run quicks,” said Coach Kelsey Steffens.  “She is very coachable and she continually pushes herself and her teammates.”

Despite being out part of the season, including missing five conference games, due to an injury, Lau still recorded some impressive stats.  She was second on the team in kills with a total of 82 in conference action for the year and a kill efficiency percentage of .254, the highest on the team.  She also had 17 blocks.

“Hannah does an excellent job of controlling the net.  The team relies on the middles to put up a block so the defense can get set.  If she hadn’t been injured, I think she could have been a contender for the First Team.”

Van Oort was a defensive specialist and led the team in digs with 143.  She was a team leader at the service line, collecting 13 ace serves and she served at .954 service efficiency.

“Mallory was instrumental in controlling our side of the court.  She was consistent and helped fill an important position on the team by playing back row for our middles.”

Coach Steffens commented on how proud she was of these three players, but also of her team as a whole.  She said the team worked together to have a competitive and fun season and that she was blessed to have many leaders who not only helped push the team, but helped challenge and direct the underclassmen.