Four Mustangs nab Heart volleyball honors

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Mount Mercy standouts Maggie Peters, Hailey Hested, Olivia Makinen, and Mackenzie Murphy were named all-Heart of America Athletic Conference this week by a vote of league coaches.

Peters, a junior middle blocker, was a second-team selection. She led the Mustangs in kills (225), kills per game (2.65), attack percentage (.272), and was third on the team with 50 total blocks.

Hested was the Heart Co-Freshman of the Year and a third-team all-conference pick. Mount Mercy's setter averaged 9.24 assists per game while totaling 758 assists in her first season with the Mustangs.

Makinen, a senior middle blocker and a third-team all-conference selection, shared the team lead with 68 total blocks while ending up fourth on the squad with 137 kills and a .192 attack percentage.

Murphy, a junior outside hitter, was honorable mention all-Heart of America. She was third on the team in kills (216) and kills per game (2.12), ranked second in digs (269), and fourth in total blocks (24).

Nada Meawad of Park was named the Heart of America Player of the Year and Attacker of the Year. The Setter of the Year was Marea Wortmann of Benedictine, Defender of the Year went to Eryn Russell of Evangel, and the Co-Freshmen of the Year were Hested and Allisyn Frank of Baker. Park's Michael Talamantes was the Heart of America Coach of the Year.