KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri Southern volleyball's Grace Gardner earned 2026 All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors, the league announced Wednesday.
 
The senior outside hitter from Springfield, Missouri, ranked second on MSSU with 244 kills while averaging 2.74 kills per set.
 
Gardner appeared in 26 matches and 89 sets during the 2026 season. She recorded a .229 hitting percentage and contributed 16 assists, seven service aces and 213 digs (2.39 per set). Gardner also totaled 38 blocks, including three solo blocks, and finished the season with 271.5 points.
 
Gardner recorded a career-best 20 kills against Missouri Western on Oct. 3, while adding four blocks. She also posted 17 kills against Union on Sept. 12. Gardner recorded a career-high 18 digs twice against Arkansas-Fort Smith on Oct. 1 and Washburn on Oct. 31.
 
She registered seven double-doubles in 2026 and finished with 11 matches recording double-digit kills.
 
In MIAA play, Gardner appeared in all 12 MIAA matches, recording 112 kills while averaging 2.73 kills per set. She posted a .230 hitting percentage and averaged 2.98 points per set, while adding nine assists.
 
Gardner recorded five double-digit kill performances in conference play. Besides the Missouri Western match, she also recorded 14 kills against Emporia State, 12 kills against both Central Oklahoma and Washburn, and 11 against Northwest Missouri.