OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Johnson County Community College volleyball player Rylie Barnum was named the Kansas Jayhawk Conference Division II Defensive Player of the Week for week one, the conference announced today.
An All-American libero as a freshman last season, Barnum started off her sophomore season with a bang. She registered 69 digs and a digs per set ratio of 4.93 while leading the No. 3 ranked Lady Cavaliers to a 3-1 record at the Central Community College Kickoff Classic in Columbus, Neb., last weekend. Barnum reached double digits in digs in all four matches, highlighted by a 24-dig effort in a tough five-set loss to Central.
Barnum also contributed 17 assists and 11 services aces. She matched her career high of five aces in a 3-0 win over the University of Saint Mary JV in the second match of the Classic.
Last season, Barnum led the conference and ranked 11th in the NJCAA wih 743 total digs. That total also ranks as the third-best season in team history. Later this season, she will become just the seventh player all-time at JCCC to top 1,000 career digs.