After setting a school record Saturday, Morningside University senior opposite hitter and Gehlen Catholic alum Miyah Whitehead was named the Great Plains Athletic Conference Attacker of the Week on Tuesday.
It’s been a great start to the season for Whitehead who is second on the Mustangs in kills this year. Whitehead says having a good support system of teammates and coaches around her has led to this success in her senior season.
Whitehead earned her GPAC Attacker of the Week honor with the help of a school record performance of 23 kills against Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday. Whitehead says she was not trying to do anything special during her record-setting performance.
The match flew along for Whitehead who just kept attacking the passes sent her way. She says she did not realize until midway through how many opportunities she was given.
Whitehead says she had no idea the totality of her effort until after the fact.
Whitehead had a stellar playing career at Gehlen Catholic leading to her recruitment at Morningside. Whitehead says her upbringing has prepared her well for playing at the collegiate level. That includes her time playing for coach Mike Meyer at Gehlen Catholic and going to state on a consistent basis.
The Whitehead family has been crucial to Morningside’s athletic success with Miyah’s older sister Morgan preceding her in volleyball and her older brother Michael playing football. Whitehead says she knew she wanted to go to Morningside after hearing her siblings talk about their experience.
Morningside is heading into this weekend with a record of 14-3 and the No. 14 ranking in the NAIA. It is the program’s best ranking nationally in nearly 17 years. Whitehead says her team can do some great things if they keep their focus high.
Morningside next plays at home on Wednesday, September 23 when they host Briar Cliff.
