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JCCC volleyball team 4-0 at Rock Valley Tournament

JCCC volleyball player Tori Valentine records a kill.
JCCC volleyball player Tori Valentine records a kill.
Posted: Aug 26, 2024

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 3-ranked Johnson County volleyball team got off to a strong start to its 2024 season, finishing 4-0 at the Rock Valley Tournament at the UW Sports Factory in Rockford, Illinois over the weekend.

The Cavaliers opened with three consecutive sweeps, followed by a come-from-behind five-set victory to close out the event.  JCCC posted 3-0 wins over Waubonsee (25-9, 25-9, 25-13), Grand Rapids (25-22, 25-17, 26-24) and Hawkeye (25-19, 25-23, 25-20). In the final match against Illinois Central, Johnson dropped the first two sets 25-22 and 25-14, then stormed back with set wins of 25-21, 25-19 and 15-11 to complete the comeback.

Sophomore hitters Tori Valentine and Kennedy Smalley led the attack for the Cavaliers. Valentine reached double figures in kills in three of the four matches, tallying 42 total kills to go along with 37 digs. She posted a pair of double-doubles, finishing with 13 kills and 10 digs in a 3-0 win over Grand Rapids, and 14 kills and 15 digs in the 3-2 victory over Illinois Central.

Kennedy tallied 36 kills and 34 digs. She topped double digits in kills twice and recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 18 digs in the win over Illinois Central. 

Directing the offense was freshman Taylin Stallbaumer. She finished 108 assists on the weekend, averaging 7.71 per set. She was in double figures all four matches. She opened with 21 against Waubonsee, followed by back-to-back 28 assist efforts over Grand Rapids and Hawkeye capped with a 31-assist performance against Illinois Central. She also had 25 digs and seven aces. 

Defensively the star was freshman Carlie Martin. She finished with 57 digs, an average of 4.07 per set. She was in double figures all four matches, with a high of 19 against Illinois Central.

Other key performers were sophomore Wren VanCleave (27 assists, 27 digs), sophomore Bella Hedke (25 kills, 13 blocks), sophomore Coral Netten (20 kills) and sophomore Chloe Carlgren (19 kills).

Johnson County returns to the court on Wednesday, August 28 when they host cross-town rival Kansas City Kansas in both team's conference opener. The match is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.