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Undefeated season comes to an end at DMACC Classic

JCCC hitter Kennedy Smalley goes up for a kill.
JCCC hitter Kennedy Smalley goes up for a kill.
Posted: Oct 09, 2023

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – A historic start to the 2023 season came to an end for the No. 1 Johnson County volleyball team as they fell to No. 11 Kirkwood and No. 4 Parkland on Saturday at the Des Moines Area Classic. 

The Cavaliers ran their unbeaten streak to 27-0 with a five-set come-from-behind victory over No. 12 Illinois Central (23-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 15-1) followed by a sweep over Bismarck State (25-12, 25-15, 25-11) on Friday.

On Saturday, JCCC won the first set against Kirkwood 25-20, buy the Eagles responded with three close set wins, 27-29, 21-25, 24-26. Against Parkland JCCC also took the early lead with 25-23 first set victory, but the Cobras responded with wins of 18-25, 29-31 and 12-25 for a 3-1 victory. 

JCCC head coach Jennifer Ei got solid production from hitters Kennedy Smalley (Harrisonville, Mo.) Sarina Ulberg (Independence, Mo.) and Isabella Flaska (St. Joseph, Mo.). Smalley tallied 43 kills and 37 digs over the weekend, highlighted by a season high digs against No. 12 Illinois Central and 17 kills against No. 11 Kirkwood. She also 13 kills against Illinois Central and 15 digs in the Kirkwood match giving a double-double in each.

Ulberg also recorded 43 kills and  double figures in kills in three of the four matches. She has 12 against Illinois Central along with a season high eight blocks, 12 against Kirkwood and 13 against Parkland.

Flaska finished with 25 kills including 10 against Kirkwood and eight against Illinois Central.

On defense, Emily Silvers posted double figures in digs in all four matches, totaling 82. She registered a season-high 29 against Kirkwood, bettering her previous high of 25 against Lincoln Land on September 8 

Setters Sydney Fiatte (Shawnee, Kan.) and Wren VanCleave (Bonner Springs, Kan.) were solid running the offense. Fiatte had 101 assists highlighted by her two best career efforts. She opened with 30 assists against Illinois Central then set a new career high with 37 against Kirkwood.

VanCleave tallied 70 assists, highlighted by a season high 26 in the win over Illinois Central. She also had 20 assists against Parkland, her fourth-best match effort of the campaign. 

The top-ranked Cavaliers hit the hard wood again on Wednesday when they host No. 3 Cowley. The winner of this match will most likely determine the winner of the conference race.