OVERAND PARK, Kan. – Johnson County Community College sophomore volleyball players Rylie Barnum and Kayla Neigenfind announced they have signed national letter-of-intent to continue their athletica and academic careers at 4-year universities. Barnum will wear the red and black for the Jennies at the University of Central Missouri, and Neigenfind will be a member of the Gorillas program at Pittsburg State University. 

"We are so proud of all the hard work and dedication that Rylie and Kayla put out into their time at Johnson County," said head coach Jennifer Ei.  "Not only did they make gains in the weight room, on the court, but also performed extremely well in the classroom achieving academic honors all semesters at JCCC. Both of them had earned postseason honors and were captains of our 2019 team.  Since both student-athletes earned credit hours coming into JCCC, they were able to transfer to their new schools at spring semester." 

Barnum, who was recently selected the JCCC Female Athlete of the Year, earned first-team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference first-team last fall, and was named the KJCCC's Defensive Player of the Year. She also was selected first-team All-District A. Barnum ranked fourth in the conference and  27^th in the NJCAA with 622 digs. That total also ranks as the fifth-most in a season at JCCC. As a freshman, Barnum earned All-America honors while tallying 743 digs, third-most in program history. She closed out her career with 1,365 digs, sixth most for a career in team history.  Barnum reached double figures in digs in 37 of the 38 matches last season, including a 41-dig match in a win over Waubonsee. She also ranked second in the conference and 17^th nationally with a 5.46 digs-per-set average and ranked fourth in the conference and 19^th nationally with 63 service aces.   Off the courty, Barnum earned JCCC student-athlete academic honors her freshman and sophomore years, and earned first-team NJCAA All-Academic honors with a 4.0 grade point average in 2019. 

Niegenfind finished 2019 with 326 kills and a 2.72 kills-per-set average, both second-best on the team, which earned her second-team All-Region VI/District A honors. She ranked 16^th in total kills in the conference and 25^th in kills-per-set average. Neigenfind also registered 346 digs and 2.88 digs-per-set average, also both second-best on the squad. She recorded 40 aces, 27 blocks and 18 assists. She reached double figures in kills 19 times, in digs 17 times and had 11 double-double matches in kills and digs. As a freshman, Niegenfind ranked third on the team with 310 kills and 2.31 kills-per-set average. She also had 156 digs. She reached double figures in kills in 13 matches, in digs four times and in assists once. She closed out her career with 636 kills, 13^th most in team history.