Iowa Pork Producers Honor State's Top Volleyball Players

November 18, 2024

The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is proud to recognize five outstanding girls’ high school volleyball players with the Top Producer awards. The prestigious honor recognizes one player from each class following the Iowa Girls State Volleyball Tournament.

IPPA partners with the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union for the presentations. The Top Producer award recognizes players who were leaders as well as team players on the court. They bring the extra elements of team leadership, perseverance, and sportsmanship to support the success of their teams in tournament games.

“Hard work, determination and working as a team are key elements to being successful pig farmers, and those same elements apply to athletics,” said Matt Gent, a pig farmer from Wellman who serves as the president of IPPA. “Every team that reaches the state tournament devoted countless hours of hard work to make it there. Congratulations to all of them, and a special congrats to those top producers who helped lead the way for their teams.”

The Top Producers selected by IGHSAU for the 2024 Iowa State Volleyball Championships are:

  • 5A: Abbie Staats, Pleasant Valley

Abbie Staats helped Pleasant Valley win their second Class 5A state volleyball title in the last four years. Staats had 23 digs, 19 serve receptions, five assists and two aces in the championship game. “I was so excited to help this team win the state championship,” Staats said. “I was just celebrating (and crying) with my teammates when they said I won the Top Producer Award...I was shocked! It means so much to me that I was recognized for working hard to help get my friends and I to the state title!”

  • 4A: Maliyah Hacker, Bishop Heelan

Maliyah Hacker had 20 kills and 10 digs to help Bishop Heelan win its first state volleyball championship since 2007. “All the hard work that we’ve been putting in and all the confidence and trust that we had in each other obviously worked out,” Hacker said. “I had zero doubts in our team. I knew we were going to get it done.”

  • 3A: Sydney Huber, Mount Vernon

Sydney Huber had 38 assists and six digs in the championship game to help lead the Mustangs to victory in the state championship. "Winning the award was such an honor and a great way to end my volleyball career," Huber said. "Our entire team played so well and this award truly belongs to all of them. I’m just so happy that I could do my part and help our team accomplish our goal of a state championship!" 

  • 2A: Channing Johnson, Denver

Channing Johnson’s 38 assists helped Denver win its first state volleyball title in school history after three straight trips to the state tournament. “I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life, but I immediately broke down in tears,” Johnson said. “I’m going to miss the seniors so much and I love playing with them.”

  • 1A: Macey Nehring, Ankeny Christian Academy

Macey Nehring’s 17 kills and 12 digs helped Ankeny Christian win its third straight Class 1A state volleyball championship. This is the second straight year Nehring has won the Top Producer award from IPPA. "I’m so thankful for having the opportunity to play and represent Ankeny Christian, and the amount this team has been able to accomplish over the years. It’s an amazing feeling to go out as seniors with one last championship, and this team deserves nothing less, I’ll forever be grateful for this godly group of girls," Nehring said.  

Volleyball is the fastest growing girls sport in Iowa, with more than 11,000 girls participating statewide.

This is the 15th year IPPA has partnered with IGHSAU to promote girls high school athletics, and the fourth year for the Top Producer awards. The Iowa Pork Producers Association will also recognize the Top Producer in each class at the girls state basketball tournament in March and is proud to support high school sports in Iowa.

High resolution photos of the five players with their Top Producer awards are available for your use at this link.