Gardner is coming off a productive club season and will look to carry that momentum into the fall as she helps lead an experienced Lee’s Summit West squad. She’s one of the premier liberos in the state, combining outstanding court awareness with high-level instincts that allow her to consistently put herself in the right position.

Her play this summer also earned her a commitment to Missouri, a testament to the potential the Tigers see in her game. With her leadership and ability to stabilize the back row, Gardner will be a major piece of Lee’s Summit West’s pursuit of a big season.

Gardner first stood out to us last fall, taking the court with her Truman teammates. She enters the court with a level of confidence you want to see in your defenders. A coach’s kid, she sees the game in ways that allow her to be successful. She is a tough-nosed defender and delivers quality sets on second balls.

Gardner can do many things on the court as I saw her put up big numbers this fall for a revamped Truman team. On the club level she is a top defender in the class in the city. Her ability to get touches on almost any ball in her zip code speaks to her awareness and quickness.