UNION CITY – The Mississinawa Valley Volleyball team defeated Franklin Monroe in straight sets, 25-15, 25-18, 25-13, to remain undefeated at 4-0 in the WOAC.
It would be a special night for Danika Neargarder, who was able to give her team a boost in a tight second set with Franklin Monroe.
The Jets, playing their best volleyball on the night, held a 9-8 lead and battled back and forth with the Blackhawks until senior Danika Neargarder was able to set back-to-back kills for Allyson Waymire and Makenna Hoggatt to reach 1000 career assist, giving Mississinawa a boost they needed as they went on to win the 2nd set 25-18.
After her 1000th assist play was stopped a few seconds to allow Mississinawa Valley Coach Taylor Rawlings to present a special ball, she would then go into the stands to give it to her parents before play would resume.
On reaching the milestone, Danika sort of took it in stride. She plays the game with a quiet confidence and never gets too high or low, always focusing on the next play as if she has been doing it her whole life. Well, that might be because volleyball has been her and her family’s life for as long as she can remember.
“It’s always been a part my whole family: my grandparents, my aunts, my uncles, my parents, we’ve always played volleyball, they enjoy and I enjoy it,” Danika commented.
“Ever since I could play, it’s always been my goal not to let the ball hit the floor, and that’s what I do,” Danika stated.
Not only does she not let it touch the ground, she covers a lot of space on the floor because she has the big responsibility of setting up big hitters and has been fortunate to have great ones over the last 3 years.
“She doesn’t miss anything and playing a five-one center position is a tough job, especially when you’re not very tall, but she does a great job at it, and she puts the ball where the hitters need it, and that’s how you get 1000 assists,” coach Rawlings explained.
“Danika’s not one who wants to be in the spotlight, even when she deserves it, like tonight. She just comes in and does what she’s supposed to do, and is definitely one of those kids who leads by example. She isn’t going to be the most vocal leader, but she’s going to get the job done,” Rawlings praised.
Danika will have bragging rights now with her family after reaching 1000 assists, but she knows a lot of that credit goes to her teammates.
“I’ve been fortunate to have good senior teammates, and we’ve had so much fun playing together since the 7th grade and I really can’t believe this is our last year, we really want to make it special,” Danika concluded.
Reaching a 1000 assists with her teammates will always be special … but the Blackhawks want more as they have their eye on a conference title.
Mississinawa cruised in the 3rd set to improve their record to 9-1 overall and 4-0 in the WOAC and have two big conference games with National Trail and Newton before colliding with Arcanum in what many predicted to be the top two teams in the WOAC on September 18th.
