Pella’s top-ranked volleyball team was more than happy to have a key player back in the lineup for their regional final victory after a shaky start to the playoffs.

Senior Katie Vander Molen didn’t light up the stat sheet against Norwalk Monday night, but head coach Catie Brand says her leadership was felt by the rest of the team and a big reason the Lady Dutch are moving on to state.

“She’s a huge calming presence on the court,” Brand says. “She’s a great talker, great communicator, she’s a gamer, she just goes hard for the ball, and she’s just one of those players that you get inspired by.”

“While she has battled this injury on and off, I feel like she really pulled through.”

Vander Molen missed the Lady Dutch playoff opener with nagging back pain, and her leadership was clearly missed as the Lady Dutch struggled to find consistency against a scrappy Carlisle team last week.

The senior hitter understands the magnitude of the games moving forward as she takes her final swings and makes her final digs as a high school volleyball player.

“I definitely realized how thankful I am just to be able to play with this team and to not take any moment I have on this floor for granted,” Vander Molen tells KNIA/KRLS Sports.

She plans to be close to 100% when Pella takes the floor at the U.S. Cellular Center Tuesday at 4 p.m. against Nevada in the state tournament. That game can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS.