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JCCC Volleyball improves to 10-0 with four big wins at Kirkwood Classic

JCCC volleyball player Taylin Stallbaumer sets the ball for a potential kill.
JCCC volleyball player Taylin Stallbaumer sets the ball for a potential kill.
Posted: Sep 08, 2024

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 2 -ranked Johnson County Community College volleyball team remained unbeaten improving to 10-0 after winning all four matches at the Kirkwood Classic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa over the weekend, three against nationally ranked teams. 

JCCC opened the event on Friday, September 6 with a five-set victory (25-19,18-25, 25-18, 11-25, 15-9) over No. 4 Heartland Community College and followed with a sweep over Lincoln Land Community College (25-19, 25-13-, 25-10).

On Saturday, the Lady Cavaliers downed No. 3 Parkland College in four sets (26-24, 23-25, 25-19, 25-23) and capped the weekend with a four-set win over No. 14 Sauk Valley Community College (21-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-21). 

Freshman Taylin Stallbaumer, who already has been selected the KJCCC D-II Setter of the Week in each of the first two weeks this year, shined again over the weekend. She tallied 136 assists, highlighted by a season-high 45-assist effort in the win over Parkland. She tallied 27 against Heartland, 34 against Lincoln Land and 30 against Sauk Valley. She also had 39 digs, topping double digits twice with a season-high 15 in win over Sauk Valley. 

Sophomore middle/outside hitter Beth Hedke benefitted from Stallbaumer's ball distribution, tallying 47 kills. In the opening match Friday, she established a new career high with 15 kills and matched that total in the second match to go along with a kill percentage of .565. 

Sophomore outside/right side hitters Kennedy Smalley, Tori Valentine and Coral Netten also were productive for the Lady Cavaliers. Smalley contributed 34 kills with an 11-kill effort against Parkland.  Valentine had 31 kills and produced 10 kills against Parkland and Netton finished with 28 kills and tallied 13 against Parkland. 

Defensively freshman Carlie Martin and sophomore Wren VanCleave were key performers. Martin extended her match string of double digit digs to 10 straight with 70 digs over the weekend, highlighted by a season-high 25 digs against Heartland. 

VanCleave finished with 32 digs with 11 coming in the win over Parkland. She also recorded 22 assists against Sauk Valley.

Johnson County returns to the hardwood on Wednesday when they return to conference play at Independence Community College.