Ottumwa, IA – The Indian Hills Volleyball team's All-American list grew by two on Tuesday afternoon as the Warriors saw sophomore Kinga Michalska (Szówsko, Poland/ZSSCHiO) and freshman Sara Van Gisteren (Leuth, Netherlands/Young Talent Academy ROC Nijmegen) garner National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI Volleyball All-America accolades.
The offensive duo becomes the 14th and 15th individuals to collect NJCAA All-America honors as Michalska was named to the NJCAA First-Team All-American squad while Van Gisteren was named to the second-team. As a program, the Warriors have now earned NJCAA All-American honors in each of the last three seasons and five of the last six campaigns.
Indian Hills was one of just five schools to earn multiple NJCAA All-American honors after placing ninth overall at the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, KS. The Warriors have now earned multiple NJCAA All-American honors in a single season in back-to-back years, and the fourth time in school history, joining the 2022, 2015, and 2005 squads.
Michalska and Van Gisteren combined for 1,034 kills on the year, the most by a set of teammates in the NJCAA this season and are the second-most by a pair of teammates in a single season in Indian Hills program history.
The duo combined for five ICCAC Athlete of the Week honors this season and were both selected to the NJCAA All-Region 11 First-Team for their efforts throughout the season.
Kinga Michalska | Sophomore | Outside Hitter | Szówsko, Poland
Michalska left a legacy at Indian Hills following a standout career that resulted in back-to-back trips to the national tournament. During the outside hitter's sophomore campaign, Michalska ranked second in the nation in total kills with 581 on the year, the third-most in a single season in school history.
"As soon as we arrived home last year from the national tournament, Kinga and I had a conversation about the plans I had in mind for her this year," stated head coach Lyndsey Michel. "It included being a six-rotation outside hitter and getting her some all-American honors and that's exactly what we did. Her leadership on the court this year came with a little more vocal contributions than it did last year, but will always be considered my silent killer and quiet leader."
Michalska, who was named the NJCAA Region 11 Player of the Year, eclipsed the 1,000 career kill mark at the national tournament, finishing her two-year run in Ottumwa with 1,010 kills, the fifth-most in program history. Michalska is just the fourth individual in school history to lead the Warriors in kills ini back-to-back seasons.
The sophomore finished the season with a .315 hitting percentage, the 17th best mark in the NJCAA. Michalska tallied.
A three-time Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) DI Volleyball Athlete of the Week, Michalska was also named to the NJCAA Region 11 First-Team and was selected to the NJCAA All-Tournament team after collecting 67 kills in four matches to lead the Warriors to the top-10 finish, just the fourth in school history.
Michalska is the seventh NJCAA All-America First-Team selection in school history.
Sara Van Gisteren | Freshman | Outside Hitter | Leuth, Netherlands
Van Gisteren made an immediate impact for the Warriors in the outside hitter's freshman campaign. Van Gisteren posted 453 kills on the year, the 12th most in the NJCAA and most by a freshman at Indian Hills since 2018.
"Sara was an amazing addition to our team this year," stated head coach Lyndsey Michel. "She brought a surprising spark to our defensive contributions, always in the right spot, long arms and surprisingly quick response to block touches. Her ability to score on her serve and put points away finding the floor for points offensively was always right on time and a major contributor to our success this year. We will continue to work on her block this year and hopefully this time next year Indian Hills Volleyball will be seeing its next two-time All American."
Van Gisteren becomes just the second freshman in school history to earn NJCAA All-American honors, joining Mariana Rodrigues in 2018.
Van Gisteren's versatility proved to be a focal point for the Warriors' success. The freshman was one of just two individuals in the nation this season to post at least 450 kills and 70 aces on the year. Van Gisteren's 74 service aces ranked eighth in the NJCAA.
The freshman tallied 24 double-digit kill efforts, including four matches with at least 20 kills. Van Gisteren's first collegiate match saw the outside hitter put away 24 kills, tied for a season-high.
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