WICHITA, Kan. – The Johnson County Community College volleyball team punched their ticket the 2024 NJCAA Division II National Tournament on Saturday afternoon in Wichita, defeating cross-town rival Kansas City Kansas Community College 3-1 to win the Plains District Championship at the Garvey Center on the campus of Friends University in Wichita, Kan.
The Cavaliers won the first two sets 25-17 and 25-23. The Blue Devils kept their hopes alive with a 25-20 win in the third set and had JCCC on the ropes in the fourth set leading 24-20. Johnson County rallied with five unanswered points and eventually won 29-27.
Sophomore outside/right side hitter Tori Valentine had her best day at the net of her career, leading the team with 21 kills and a kill percentage of .286. Her 21 kills set a new career high, surpassing her previous high of 19 set against Gulf Coast State in August of her freshman season. She also tallied 11 digs, giving her a double-double in the match and her 10th double-double on the season.
Sophomore outside/right side hitter Kennedy Smalley also posted a double-double with 13 kills and 25 digs. It was her 11 double-double of the campaign.
Sophomore middle/outside hitter Beth Hedke and sophomore outside/right side hitter Coral Netten each were credited with six kills. Hedke also led the team with four block assists.
Freshman setter Taylin Staullbaumer recorded her third highest assist total in a match distributing out 41 assists to lead the offense. She has topped double digits in assists in 31 of the matches played this season.
In the back, freshman defensive specialist/outside hitter Carlie Martin led JCCC with 35 digs, the 30th time she finished in double figures. Her 35 digs are also a new career high, topping her previous of high of 32 against Des Moines Area on September 13. Sophomore outside/defensive specialist Mallory Pruitt also posed double figures in digs with 12, matching her second highest output this season.
Johnson County head coach Jennifer Ei has led JCCC to 13 NJCAA D-II Tournament appearances in her 17 seasons at the helm, with a national championship in 2022, runner-up finishes in 2008 and 2010, and third place finishes in 2013, 2018, 2021 and 2023. JCCC also won a national title in 2005 when Ei was an assistant.
Overall JCCC now will have made 17 trips to the NJCAA D-II Tournament and boast a 49-20 mark entering this year's tournament. JCCC also had four NJCAA D-I Tournament appearances.
The 2024 NJCAA D-II Tournament will be held at Alliant Energy Powerhouse Arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, November 20-23.