FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks volleyball team has announced the addition of Mikala Henderson for the upcoming 2025 season. Henderson, a graduate transfer, is a 5-8 outside hitter and will spend her final college season with Alaska.
"We can't wait to have Mikala join our team!" said head coach
Brian Scott, "Mikala is a proven and experienced outside hitter with several years of high-level experience at the DI University of Illinois Chicago. She has a wide range of shots and tools she uses as a hitter that will translate into our systems and style of play. Mikala's sister,
Cynphany Henderson, will help her easily transition into the program. We are excited to have her join our program."
Over the course of four seasons with the UIC Flames in the Missouri Valley Conference, Henderson made appearances in 96 total matches, playing in 305 total sets and picked up 694 career kills for a 2.28 kills/set average. She added a .215 swing percentage, 38 service aces, and 33 assists. Defensively, Henderson had 301 career digs, 122.0 total blocks, and three career solo blocks. During the 2021 season, Henderson had a career-high 137 digs (1.27 digs/set) and 23 aces. The following season saw career-highs offensively with 285 kills, a 2.77 kills/set average, a .279 swing percentage, and 51 total blocks with two solo blocks. Additionally, she started 28 of the 32 matches played in the 2022 season with the Flames going 22-10, 13-5 MVC. Henderson hails from St. Michael, Minn. and attended St. Michael Albertville High School.
There she was a four year letterwinner on the volleyball team while helping her team to a Lake Conference Championship in 2017 and 2018. She also helped them to a pair of Sectional Runners Up finishes while taking home the 2016-17 Rookie of the Year honor. As a senior, she was the team captain and was an All-State honoree. That same year she was named the Offensive MVP after taking home the Defensive MVP honor a season before. Henderson intends on studying strategic leadership at UAF. She is the daughter of Melia Cooter and has two siblings; Cynphany and Iyla. Her sister Cynphany is a current setter on the Nanooks team.
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