White signs letter to play at Simpson

 RED OAK — Red Oak setter Makelti White signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for Simpson College in Indianola this fall.

White made it official last Tuesday at Red Oak High School with her parents, Donnie and Tina Lindquist, as well as Red Oak volleyball coach Angie Montgomery and Red Oak athletic director Jeff Spotts in attendance.

“The school really interested me most,” White said about Simpson.

White was contacted by Simpson Head Volleyball Coach Lana Smith after state, seeking out the senior.

Prior to going to Simpson, White had considered attending the University of Iowa.

“I decided volleyball was what I wanted to do,” she said.

Simpson College plays in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC or Iowa Conference), a group of NCAA Division III schools that also features Central, Wartburg, Cornell, Luther, Buena Vista, Loras and the University of Dubuque.

In 2013, Simpson finished 17-14 overall and 2-5 in Iowa Conference play. 

They last won the regular season championship in 2009, which was also the last year they won the Iowa Conference tournament. 

Since 1987, Simpson has won eight regular season titles and six tournament titles in the Iowa Conference.

“I definitely looked into that and they’re a very competitive team,” White said.

The school really impressed White, who said she will be majoring in pre-pharmacy. She added she hopes to do an internship and then go to the University of Iowa.

White has been one of the key players for Red Oak volleyball. 

She’s been part of the varsity squad all four years, the last two being one of the team’s top setters.

“I think the coach definitely said I’d be an asset to the team because she needs a setter,” White said.

White has been to three state tournaments, as well as four regional finals.

She finished her Red Oak career with 729 assists and 318 digs. The 2013 season was a career year for White as she was second on the team in assists, behind Courtney Billings, who had 402, with 392.

“Volleyball here at Red Oak has given me a lot of experience, especially getting to the state tournament,” White said.

Red Oak finished the 2013 season 27-7 overall and 6-4 in the Hawkeye 10.