Madison County Volleyball Player Ava Gustafson Named ITG Next Alabama Female Athlete of the Month for September 2022
Ava Gustafson, a junior volleyball player at Madison County High School, has been voted our ITG Next Alabama Female Athlete of the Month for her play during August, receiving 32.46% of the total votes.
Playing for a Tigers team that is one of the best in Class 4A at the moment, Gustafson has made a significant impact for Madison County so far, particularly during the season’s first month. The junior shined on the court for the Tigers in August, compiling 85 kills, 35 serving aces, 72 blocks, and 63 digs across 49 sets played.
“She has been very instrumental in our success,” Madison County volleyball coach Valerie Hervey said. “She’s playing middle blocker and is very dynamic in that position. She reads the court well from the opponent’s standpoint, she can run various plays at the middle, and she is just overall a great teammate and player with high energy.”
For the season overall, the junior entered the week with 88 sets played on the year, a span in which Gustafson has compiled totals of 165 kills, 55 serving aces, 101 blocks, and 103 digs.
“Ava works really hard,” Hervey said. “She really thinks through her technique and is really open to being coachable. You can see her wheels turning when you’re delivering information to her.
“In practice, she’s one that wants to get it right,” Hervey continued. “She’s almost a perfectionist when it comes to her technique. Just a great player and an overall great person to be around.”
Though she’s not been with the program long, Gustafson has made her presence felt and quickly become a team leader.
“With Ava stepping into a leadership role, it was outside of her comfort zone, but she is definitely emerging as a leader,” Hervey said. “All the kids really admire her and her work ethic. In moving forward, I can’t wait to see what she is able to accomplish this season and next.”
Congratulations to Madison County volleyball player Ava Gustafson, our ITG Next Alabama Female Athlete of the Month.
