Seven Dordt College Defender women’s volleyball players have earned all-GPAC honors for the recently completed regular season in which the Defenders won a share of the GPAC Title and claimed the runner-up spot in the GPAC Postseason Tournament.
Jamie Gesink (Junior; Sioux Center, Iowa) was named the GPAC Setter-of-the-Year and was on the first-team. Ema Altena (Junior; Sioux Center, Iowa) and Summer Jansen (Senior; Sheldon, Iowa) completed the trio of Defenders on the first-team.
Claiming second-team honors were Leah Kamp (Junior; Tinley Park, Illinois) and Julia Lindbergh (Junior; Margate, Florida).
The honorable mention list included Ally Krommendyk (Sophomore; Bell Plaine, Minnesota) and Haley Moss (Senior; Boyden, Iowa).
Gesink earns first-team honors for a third straight season and put up 10.61 assists per set while adding 1.1 kills and 2.3 digs per outing. Gesink’s 36 ace serves was the second highest total on the team.
“To be named GPAC Setter of the Year and receive First-Team All-Conference is a remarkable honor and well deserved. Jamie has demonstrated each week that she is a leader striving for the total success of her team. She has been named to GPAC Player of the Week honors four times as well as received National Player of the Week honors two times this season. The conference coaches recognized her ability to be an offensive threat in delivering the ball as well as attacking it herself. She has already had a wonderful season and we are excited for more of her leadership to continue,” said Dordt College coach Chad Hanson.
Altena is on the first-team for a third straight season as well and led the league in kills per set with 4.45 and had a kill efficiency of .280 while playing outside hitter. Altena also got to 2.12 digs per set and accounted for 42 service aces which led the team.
“Ema’s season has been marked by strong offensive play throughout each week. She has produced the strongest attacking numbers in the conference where opposing teams are strategizing against her attack. In every conference match she led us in kills and also produced strong results in serve receive passing and digging. Throughout this season, she was named GPAC Player of the Week three times and also received NAIA National Player of the Week one time. She has continued to strive for growing opportunities to help her team become more successful. This First Team All-Conference honor is well deserved. We look forward to seeing more as we enter the NAIA National Tournament,” said Hanson.
Jansen led the conference in digs per set with a 5.23 average and she had 26 service aces. She handled 95 percent of her serve receptions cleanly. Jansen was an honorable mention pick last season and a second-team pick as a sophomore.
““Summer has earned this first team recognition through this strongest season of her career. Her ongoing leadership for our defense and serve receive have been the foundation for our ball control strength and in-match adjustments. I rely on her instincts and court wisdom regularly to make adjustments where and when we need,” said Hanson. “She has continued to be a team servant through each week of our season. For Summer to receive four different GPAC Defensive Player of the Week honors as well as two different NAIA Defensive Player of the Week honors, this First-Team All-Conference recognition is one more reminder of the tremendous year she has already had and we trust will continue to have.”
Moss came back from shoulder surgery in the off-season to play in the final 16 matches of the season. She put down 1.17 kills per set with a .333 kill efficiency and recorded nearly a block per set.
“This season was supposed to be a sideline experience for Haley as she had career-ending shoulder reconstruction surgery back in April. Her desires to stay with our program in a support role on the bench and in practices was quickly upended by a September follow-up doctor’s appointment that gave her clearance to return to the court and compete,” said Hanson. “In late September, she joined our rotation to finish out a great conference run. The conference coaches recognized Haley’s ability to influence opposing hitters as well as attack the ball herself. For her to make the All-Conference Honorable Mention team is really special.”
The Defenders are 29-6 and await their pool assignment at the NAIA National Championship Final Site in Sioux City, Iowa beginning Tuesday, November 30.
