After advancing to the semifinals of the NCCAA Midwest Region tournament, the Moody Bible Institute women's volleyball team generated more good news when three Archer athletes earned spots on the all-Midwest Region postseason squad. As voted on by the region's head coaches, junior setter Hayley Williams and junior outside hitter Kiarra Henkel were chosen to the all-region second team, and freshman outside hitter Grace Vahey was named the region's freshman of the year.
Congratulations to this committed trio of Archers for their well-deserved accolades!
Henkel transferred to Moody last summer from Maranatha Baptist University, the host school for regionals. One of the team's co-captains, she finished the 2024 season leading the Archers in kills (169), hitting percentage (.182), and serve receive passer rating and was second in digs (197) and third in service aces (31).
"Day in and day out, Kiarra is one of our most dedicated athletes," head coach Jeff Smith said. "Kiarra knows only one way to practice and play each day, and that's with all-out effort, focus, and passion. She's also such a well-rounded player who excels as both a front row and back row attacker, passer, defender, and jump server. And her enthusiasm for the game, work ethic, and competitive zeal are infectious with her teammates."
"Kiarra has become a stronghold for her teammates by her words and actions," assistant coach Anais Deac said. "She's played with every thought of bettering the next ball, while also pushing her teammates to do the same.
In her first full season as a setter after starting at outside hitter as a freshman and sophomore, Williams shined as the leader of the team's offense. For the season, the Archers' lead captain paced Moody in assists (348) while finishing third in digs (173) and third in blocks.
"Without a setter, I asked Hayley to fill this crucial role on the team, and she worked extremely hard and absolutely blossomed at the position," Smith said. "Hayley's quickness, athleticism, and assertiveness enabled her to turn nearly every pass into a hittable ball for our hitters, and she developed the ability to execute a wide range of sets that enabled us to run a diverse and complex offense. She also plays standout defense and is such a great leader on the court."
"Despite her new role of setter, Hayley did not shy away from playing aggressively and has truly stepped up as an athlete," Deac said. "She had to adapt but instead evolved into a setter her teammates can rely on."
As a freshman, Vahey was second on the Archers in kills, led the team in digs (221), and was second on the Archers in service aces (34). Vahey's 164 kills set a new Moody freshman school record.
"Grace was one of the most improved players on the team this season," Smith said. "She adapted well to the collegiate game as a first-year outside hitter and grew into one of our top attackers and jump servers and a solid defensive player. As she continues learning and developing her skills and athleticism her future looks bright."
"Straight out of high school, Grace has showed a great tenacity in her plays as a volleyball player," Deac said. "She's able to find an open spot on the court, making her opponents fight for every point. She has proven to be a great asset to the team, and I look forward to her growth as a player in the upcoming years."
After compiling a 9-12 record while devoting their season to shining the light of Christ in each practice and match, the team will return to the gym for off-season training beginning in February. The Archers look forward to 10 weeks of strength, jump, and speed training combined with skill development as they prepare for the 2025 season.
GO ARCHERS!