Coach Masselink had the opportunity to meet most of the girls of this coming season’s team Saturday at open gym.

What did you think about the team for this coming season after watching them play?

“I think that we are going to have a great year this season. We have a lot of potential as a team to do great things. The girls play well as a team and work great together. I also feel that the team is going to make the transition of having a new coach very smooth. We have a lot of exciting things in store for this season and a good mix of new players to join our returners.”

What are you most excited about for this upcoming season?

“I’m excited about the relationships these girls are going to continue to form with each other. I could already see the chemistry between them with both the returning players and the new players. I can’t wait to see how that chemistry transfers to their play on the court. I can tell already that these girls work hard and have a great work ethic.”

Q. What is your favorite thing about playing volleyball at Grace?

Naomi’s Answer: “My favorite thing about playing volleyball at Grace Bible is the fact that we can integrate the Bible and grow in Christ together as a team. It is encouraging that we are all at Grace to learn to serve Christ in Church and Society and can learn to play in a way that reflects that. I love that we can learn as a team to reflect God’s light on the court and encourage each other in Christ as students, volleyball teammates, and sisters in Christ.”

Q. What are you looking forward to the most about this upcoming season?

Naomi’s Answer: “God has taught me so much through these opportunities every year and I can’t wait to see what God is going to do through this next year’s team.  I am excited about the changes and growth that Grace is making on the campus and to see those changes integrated and affect us as a team as well. I am excited to return with my past volleyball team and to welcome new incoming team members.”

Q. What is your favorite volleyball memory?

Naomi’s Answer: “My favorite volleyball memory was the times our team united and played in a way that shocked other good teams. Many of those times involved playing Northland and Moody. Our team often seemed to unite in our passion to beat Northland especially and it was a great moment to be able to defeat them in a match. Our team had often seen them as our rivals. The day we beat them was a wonderful and exciting day for us and showed our potential to play as a united team.

Marcie Masselink will enter her first season as head coach for Grace Bible College this fall in the 2012 season.  Marcie is a graduate of Cornerstone University where she played four years for the Golden Eagles as a setter, While at CU, she earned team MVP for two years, team defensive player of the year, and was team captain for two years.  Coach Masselink also broke the career assist record at Cornerstone University with 6,274 assists.

In the off season, Marcie coaches club volleyball in Grand Rapids.  Marcie has coached at a number of clubs and schools in the area and has a wide variety of experience coaching and playing volleyball.  Marcie hopes to use her experience in and around West Michigan to help build the volleyball team at Grace.

“We are so excited to have Marcie and her husband Scott as part of our sports programs here at GBC.  She has an exciting personality and the girls are really going to enjoy her enthusiasm for the game.  We feel that she is the exact person we were looking for to take over our program.  She will bring instruction for individual improvement and experience for chemistry building for the team.  We are confident that she will continue to build on the successes of former Coach John Spooner” – Gary Bailey, Director of Sports Operations.

Former Coach John Spooner resigned at the end of the 2011 season to be able to spend more time in his position as Director of Campus Ministries at Grace.  Coach Spooner leaves as the all-time win leader in Women’s Volleyball.

Marcie is married to Scott Masselink and lives in Grand Rapids.  Both Scott and Marcie are graduates of South Christian High School.

“I am excited to be a part of the Grace community.  I look forward to working with the players here and future players to continue to build this exciting volleyball program.  Grace supports their teams very well from the Administration to the fans in the stands.  There are great travel opportunities for the players to not only play volleyball but to for new experiences.” – Head Coach Marcie Masselink

Israel: NorthPointe High School senior Gabrielle Blickley and Grace volleyball recruit experiencing a transforming time on her senior trip to Israel.  Pray God gives her greater insight to Himself!  Love the Jewish clothes, especially the t-shirt!

Wyoming, MI:  Coach Spooner announced his resignation as Head Volleyball coach effective immediately.  “This was a decision based on additional responsibilities and needs presented to me within the Community Life Department here at Grace.  These are exciting times with record enrollment and continued increases next year.  I will be teaching again in the fall and with recent reshuffling of administrative responsibilities, I simply can’t do both at the same time.”  Coach Spooner said.

“I love volleyball and along with Coach Jessica Keizer, worked very hard with our teams bringing respect to this sport on campus and life lessons to each player.  This year was particularly hard with injuries, players not returning causing shifting of positions but I was very proud of our three graduating seniors and the rest of the team in stepping up to the challenge.  Whoever takes over will have a great group of returners and new recruits to work with in taking this sport to the next level.   This will be a hard adjustment personally as I have been coaching either volleyball or basketball for over 20 years but am confident in God’s leading and provisions.”  Coach Spooner

“I want to thank AD Rich Renzema for his outstanding support and encouragement during the past three years.  I am most grateful for Coach Jessica Keizer and her invaluable support.  I will also miss the coaching community within the NCCAA region but certainly look forward to supporting Tiger volleyball as best I can in the future.”

Any coaching recommendations can be suggested to AD Rich Renzema.

Grand Rapids, MI:  Coach Spooner was given an opportunity recently to challenge over 7o boys and girls in the Kent County Juvenile Center.  “Dan Chapin, Youth for Christ director asked if I’d be willing to share a challenge and knowing how much life choices mean to these young people I was honored to represent Jesus Christ and Grace Bible College.”  Coach Spooner said later.

The challenge coach gave was centered around various volleyball phrases and their impact on immediate choices, such as ‘Right Here, Right Now’; ‘Expect the Ball’; ‘Meet them at the net’.  “The youth seemed to really respond to the athletic analogy of volleyball being such a high ‘exposure’ sport in that every mistake costs a point.  No other team sport has that consequence.  So the importance of the immediate moment making the right choice is even more significant and critical to overall success.  They got that because everyone of them is there for that exact reason.  Their choices cost them a point.  But it doesn’t have to cost them their lives.”

Grace Volleyball seeks to give more than just training but instilling a desire to use the sport beyond just performance on the court but to challenge others is life choices.  “Each of our players is accountable to find ways volleyball can teach them the greater life lessons and a testimony of our faith is living that life of integrity and honor.”  Coach Spooner said.  “I am excited how each team finds ways to do just that.”

Wyoming, MI:  The 2011 volleyball team celebrated together at Coach Spooner’s house with dinner and team awards.  “This year brought a lot of adversity and challenges, I was proud in many ways how the team continued to work through so much.  Especially our seniors Joee Spooner, Tabitha Ryan and Leslie Pumford-who made many sacrifices to finish out their careers at Grace.”  Coach Spooner said later.

The team voted the following awards:

Most Improved Player:  Anna Veldink-Freshman (Byron Center Zion Christian).  “Anna has a great infectious attitude and tremendous work ethic.  Many times during down time between matches she would be watching other teams for ways to improve her own game.  Indeed as the season progressed and more changes needed to be made, she gave great contributions to the team in a position she never played before, libero.  She’s an exciting part of Tiger volleyball future.”

Tiger Award-110%- Jessica Ryan- Sophomore (Hopkins HS).  “Jess was asked to make major changes twice during the year switching from libero to setter.  She rose to the challenge in many ways and worked hard at a position she had never played before.  It was a painful decision to take her out of a role she was best at-libero and have her set but if we hadn’t done that she couldn’t have played at all due to major shoulder injuries.  She worked at it with great enthusiasm even though discouraged at times she never gave up and always gave her best.”

Most Valuable Player- Joee Spooner- Senior.  “Without question Joee was the most passionate player on the team about volleyball.  And throughout most of the season in which she set several school records suffered with a most painful foot injury that clearly inhibited some of her play.  In spite of that she constantly showed team leadership encouraging others as well as giving it all she had on the court.  After four years she leaves with the second highest win total of any volleyball player in school history.  Her passion and love for the game will be greatly missed.”

Joee and Naomi ACCA All-Americans

For the second year in a row both Joee Spooner and Naomi Kemper were named to the ACCA All-American team.  Both of them are team leaders in almost every category.  Joee is the team leader in kills per set at 2.47 with Naomi right there at 2.45.  Joee has the 2nd highest hitting % in school history at 28.8 for her career.  Naomi has set a new all time career dig record at 1, 287 and led this years team with a 3.25 dig per set.  Naomi also now is 2nd in aces during a season at 70.  Joee has set a single season record of 175 combined blocks and this year set a new career record of 514 combined blocks.  Joee is now only the 2nd player in school history joining Trish Apel Whittaker as members of the 1,000 kill club.  Next year Naomi is certain to join them as well.

“Both of these players led the team in so many different ways.  We are going to miss Joee to graduation and look forward to Naomi’s senior year.  Both of these young ladies will be recognized as some of the top volleyball players in school history.  Above all else they strive to honor God with their talents.  I was greatly privileged to be called their coach and Joee’s dad.  They have done a great work in changing the cultural mind set of volleyball here at Grace. “  Coach Spooner said.

Joplin, MO:  The Tigers bid for the first trip to a national semi-finals in 18 years fell just a few points short against 4th seed Calvary Bible College.  The Tigers led in all three sets and never gave up runs more than 3 points.  “We were right there the whole time and had our chances but Calvary simply played better with superior coaching and beat us.  I was very proud of how we started each set and consistent play from our defense.  Tabitha Ryan, one of our three seniors was outstanding in serve receive, serving 100% and played solid in the back row.  Joee Spooner, despite a season long nagging foot injury, had 9 kills hitting 32%.”  Coach Spooner said.

Naomi Kemper and Nichole Galbicsek both had 6 kills while Naomi had 2 of the teams 5 aces and led the team with 9 digs.  Aubree Domsic and Leslie Pumford each with 2 kills helped give the Tigers good offensive balance with Jessica Ryan setting for 19 assists.  Freshman Anna Veldink really stepped up her work at Libero getting 5 digs and consistent passing.

“This has been a year of much adversity and changes for us all through out the season.  What I am most proud of and appreciate is the teams mentality to work hard at dealing with those issues and applying life long lessons together.  I’m especially pleased with our three seniors and their contribution to changing the culture of Tiger volleyball.”  An emotional post match Coach Spooner said while getting a big hug from his senior daughter Joee.  “I told Joee she can now call me just dad.  This is hard knowing she’s done but her work ethic and leadership to increase the level of respect for Tiger volleyball is deeply appreciated and will be missed greatly.”

Monday night, the 7th of November during the half-time of the mens’ basketball game all three seniors will be given special honors and awards.

A special thanks to all the Tigers family and fans this year.  If you know of any high school athlete interested in joining this emerging tradition contact Coach Spooner.

Joplin, MO: The Tigers win their first match in the first round at a National tournament in 16 years defeating Champion Baptist in three straight sets.  “Champion though seeded 8th played with great spirit and tenacity.  This wasn’t our most elegant match played this year but we won.  We had to make major adjustments to the style of play but in the end we found ways to win points.  Our serving was outstanding along with our attack % but we struggled against a more out of system offense.”  Coach Spooner said after the match.

The Tigers were led by Joee Spooner and Naomi Kemper with 10 and 8 kills respectively.  The Tigers had 16 aces led by Naomi with 6 and Nichole Galbicsek’s 5.  Jess Ryan had 20 assists.  Aubree Domsic moving to right side hitter had 4 kills and 2 blocks.

The Tigers continue with pool play Friday at 12:30 against the #4 seeded Calvary Bible College; then at 4:00 against the host school and #1 seeded Ozark Christian College.