WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's volleyball coach Katie Van Hofwegen is pleased to announce the signings of Gabbey Harrington and Makayla Bell for next season.

Harrington is a 5-foot-10 setter from Cowan High School, and Bell is a 5-9 hitter from Fairfield High School.

GABBEY HARRINGTON

Harrington is an All-State setter for Cowan. She racked up 663 assists and 270 digs for the Blackhawks in her senior season, helping Cowan stay ranked in Class A for much of the year.

Harrington was also named All-County, All-Conference, and Academic All-State.

"I chose Grace College because of the loving atmosphere and overall culture of the campus," Harrington said. "My athletic goal is to help the team compete at the highest level possible."

Additionally, Harrington excelled on the AAU circuit, winning AAU All-American and Academic All-American honors. 

Apart from the volleyball court, Harrington has won multiple awards for Most Outstanding Student throughout her high school career. She attended the Lygar Symposium Conference in 2015 and was the captain of the school's math and science academic teams.

"We at Cowan are so proud of Gabbey and all her accomplishments. Grace is getting a very hard-working young lady," said Cowan head coach Whitney Stewart. "She has great hands and makes very good decisions during play. She will be a leader right away at Grace, and we wish her the best of luck."

Harrington, who is the daughter of Jason and Stacey Harrington, lives in Muncie, Ind. She plans to major in physics/mechanical engineering management at Grace.

MAKAYLA BELL

Bell is an All-Conference hitter for Fairfield. She was named the team's MVP after leading Fairfield with 110 kills on a .410 kill percentage.

Bell ranked second on the team in aces (27), third in digs (168) and had a career-high 1.3 blocks per set in a well-rounded senior campaign. She was also named to the Shondell Invitational All-Tournament Team in 2016.

"Grace College was just the best fit for me. After one visit, I loved everything about it," Bell said. "I have always paid close attention to my grades and will continue to do so in college. As far as volleyball, I want to be a team player and do whatever part is needed from me to help Grace succeed."

Fairfield won a pair of sectional titles in 2013 and 2014. The Falcons finished the 2016 season with a sterling 22-9 record, including 10-1 in conference play. 

"We are so excited to see Makayla go on to play college volleyball at Grace, even though she will be missed at Fairfield. She is one of the most driven, dedicated, talented, hard-working and compassionate teenagers I know," said Fairfield head coach Kurstyn Bankson. "I am certain that these qualities combined with her big heart will make her an asset both on and off the court. We cannot wait to see where this opportunity takes her."

Bell, the daughter of Dustin and Gina Bell, is a resident of Goshen, Ind. She hopes to study elementary education during her time at Grace.