FROM THE PANTHER COURT TO THE LANCERS: GENEVA’S JOURNEY
For Geneva Huisman, volleyball was never something she pursued alone. From the very beginning, it was a family decision, a church community showing up, and a school willing to invest in who she was becoming, not just how she played.
A Family That Showed Up
Geneva’s parents made the choice to send her to Maranatha, a decision she now points to as one of the most formative of her athletic life. They got her involved in travel volleyball, drove her to tournaments, and never missed a chance to cheer her on. Her church and young adult community showed the same kind of consistency, asking about her season, showing up to games, and praying for her through wins and losses alike.
She remembers the small things most: her family and friends offering grace on the weeks when practice had worn her down, and the encouragement that came without fail after a tough loss. That steady presence, she says, carried her through more than she can fully put into words.
What MCA Gave Her
Geneva’s time at MCA gave her something she didn’t expect walking in: real confidence, on and off the court. She played for coaches who put God first, something she says shaped how she saw her sport and herself throughout high school. Volleyball also gave her something unplanned, close friendships with girls she barely knew before stepping onto the court with them.
It was playing volleyball as a grade nine at Maranatha that first connected Geneva with her future travel coaches, a relationship that opened the door to the travel team that shaped the next several years of her athletic life. She’s quick to credit her teachers too, for the guidance and encouragement that carried into every part of her high school experience.
Even now, Geneva finds herself back in the gym cheering on her younger brothers, still connecting with the same coaches and teachers who shaped her own years as a Panther.
Balancing the Grind
Life as a varsity athlete meant learning to manage time, sacrifice, and rest in ways Geneva hadn’t had to before. She quickly learned that putting her best foot forward in school mattered just as much as her performance on the court, since one made the other possible. She also learned the importance of finding joy outside of volleyball entirely, so the sport never became something that burned her out.
When things felt overwhelming, she leaned on the people around her. She made space, intentionally, for Christian community, prayer, and time with God on her own, treating that rhythm as just as essential to her success as any practice schedule.
Her Word to Current Student Athletes
Geneva’s advice to current MCA students is straightforward: keep working hard, in school and in sports both. Build real relationships with coaches, whether at Maranatha or beyond. Be bold, meet new people, and let the love of Christ show in how you do it. She also encourages students to try sports outside their main one, since the skills and connections built along the way are worth more than they seem at the time.
Pursuing a varsity career takes real work, she says, but it’s worth every bit of it. Her encouragement is simple: keep pushing, and rely on God for the strength to do it.
Her Word to MCA Parents
To the parents of current MCA athletes, Geneva’s message is to show up, as often as you can, cheering your kids on. Encourage them to step outside their comfort zone, try new things, and get involved, whether that’s sports, volunteering, or a school club. Keep praying for them and encouraging them daily.
And on the days when the game doesn’t go well, be the listening ear and the gracious presence they need. That, she says, matters just as much as being in the stands.
Geneva is one of many MCA alumni carrying what she learned as a Panther into the next chapter of her athletic journey.
