Talan Hiemstra Joins the Roadrunners

Talan Hiemstra of Marcellus High School and Joe Valley Volleyball Club has signed her NJCAA Letter of Intent to play volleyball in the 1st Source Bank Fieldhouse for Head Coach Jenny Nate and the Roadrunners.

SMC Coach Jenny Nate said of her new recruit, "Talan is a local, versatile, six rotation, tough, right-side attacker and defender.  She is a leader on the court, in the classroom, and in the community.  In volleyball, she was First Team All Conference (2023), Second Team All Conference (2022), and a Climax Scotts All Tournament Team Member (2021, 2022, 2023 - and was the 2022 top vote getter).  Talan has been a four-year varsity player and a two-year captain.  In track, she was All Conference the past three years in the pole vault, was on the All-Academic Team, and is a three-time state qualifier." 

Nate continued, "Along with being a National Honor Society member, she is a 10-year 4-H member - showing livestock at the Van Buren Youth Fair, shows market goats at jackpot, state and national shows, and has had various champions including a three Grand and Reserve Grand Champions at the Michigan Livestock Expo.  Talan is the exact type of well-rounded player we want to help us build the SMC Volleyball Program.  She will also continue to play high-level club ball this winter and spring at Joe Valley Volleyball Club which will help her prepare to be a force on our team next fall."

Marcellus High School Coach Jordyn Plotts added, "I want to commend Talan on her leadership this year. She is a very versatile player who stays level-headed in any situation. Her teammates look to her in all aspects of the game, and she will be greatly missed. When asked what she thought about stepping up in the middle this year she said, 'Wherever the team needs me, I'll play.' She is a selfless player with a great volleyball IQ. I cannot wait to see what she accomplishes in the years to come; she is a great role model on and off the court!"

Hiemstra joins Gia Jania of Westville, Indiana, in the 2024 SMC Volleyball recruiting class.

SMC Volleyball finished its second season after a 25-year hiatus with a record of 23-13. The Roadrunners improved to 7-5 in the MCCAA Western Conference, placing third and again qualifying for the Great Lakes District A Tournament. Individual players earned eight conference and regional awards, including All-Freshman Team, All-Conference Second Team, All-Conference First Team, All-Region Team and Player of the Year.