August 2014 – Page 22 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

KCKCC volleyball team defeats three ranked teams in opening tourney

by Alan Hoskins

It wasn’t a perfect start for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s No. 12 ranked volleyball team but it was awfully close.

After losing to the nation’s No. 1 team in four sets, the Lady Blue Devils knocked off the No. 4, No. 9 and No. 14 teams in Division II in the South Suburban Conference tournament in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Friday and Saturday.

“It was a good start to find out who we are, especially against the competition we saw,” said KCKCC coach Mary Bruno.

Facing No. 1 Parkland in the opener, the Blue Devils fell behind 25-21, got even in the second set with a 25-22 win, dropped a 25-23 heartbreaker and then fell 25-16 in the final set.

“We just made too many errors in the last set,” Bruno said.

But it was all KCKCC the rest of the way as the Blue Devils won 12 of their final 15 sets starting with a sweep of No. 14 South Suburban 25-17, 25-16, 25-16 and a 30-28, 25-21, 26-28, 25-22 decision over No. 4 Illinois Central.

The Blue Devils jumped in front of No. 9 Des Moines Area 25-16, 25-23 and then won the decisive fifth set 15-9 after losing 25-23, 25-18. KCKCC then closed out the tourney with a 25-21, 25-19, 25-16 sweep of Waubunsee, which had received votes in the national rankings.

“Our defense was the key,” Bruno said.

Three Blue Devil sophomores vaulted into the national rankings with their performances in the opening tourney. Libero Andrea Aparicio took the lead nationally in both total digs (119) and average digs per set (6.26); outside hitter Blair Russell of Marysville is second in kills with 68 and sixth in kills per set (3.58); and setter Lily Thornberg of Junction City is fourth in assists per game (10.11).

The Blue Devils will get no time to rest on their early laurels as they open Jayhawk Conference play Wednesday at Neosho County, a team ranked right behind Johnson County, Cowley County and KCKCC in the preseason rankings.

The KCKCC home opener will come Wednesday, Sept. 3, against Hesston but the Blue Devils will go back on the road for 11 straight matches including weekend tournaments at Highland Sept. 5-6 and New Port Richey, Fla., Sept. 12-13.

Man injured after hitting barrier wall on I-70

A Chrysler Pacifica was westbound on I-70 east of the I-435 exit at 12:47 a.m. Aug. 23 when it entered the median and struck the barrier wall.

According to a Kansas Turnpike Authority trooper’s report, a 36-year-old Kansas City, Kan., man driving the vehicle was injured and taken to the hospital.

He was not wearing a seat belt, the report stated.

KCKCC to hold voter education event in September

by Kelly Rogge

Kansas City Kansas Community College will hold an educational voter registration event next month to encourage the community to exercise their right to vote.

“It’s Up 2 Us: A Voter Education and Registration Initiative” is at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Performing Arts Center on the KCKCC main campus, 7250 State Ave.

“The event aims to motivate our students and those in the community to get out and vote,” said Jared Hill, coordinator of the Intercultural Center at KCKCC. “We hear a lot of opinions, but there needs to be more action, and we have to do it together. Too often, we are apathetic about the democratic process, so we thought this event might be a nice way to attract attention with some great entertainment and get people registered.”

While there will be an emphasis on voting and registering to vote at the “It’s Up 2 Us,” there will also be live entertainment. Groups scheduled to perform include Roger Suggs, “Vigilante;” C-Los and Jose Guerra and Gregory Taylor. In addition, those in attendance will have the opportunity to hear from others on why voting is important to them and our community.

“We need to work together to get past the obstacles that prevent able-voters from voting and let those in positions of power know how we really feel,” Hill said. “We want students to walk away being more mindful about voting, take advantage of advance voting ballots and to be a little more prepared for the upcoming general elections.”

This event is a collaboration between the League of United Latin American Citizens Council 11082, the American Association of University Women, the International Student Organization, the Student Organization of Latinos, Israel Garcia with Garcia Squared Contemporary, Julian Gomez with Mi Raza Magazine, Roger Suggs a.k.a Vigilante, C-Los, Jose Guerra and Gregory Taylor, Jessica Piedra, the League of Women Voters, the Intercultural Center and Student Activities.

Anyone interested in attending may search for the event via Facebook and enter “It’s Up 2 Us,” where they can join the conversation (#up2us) and invite others to participate and attend.

Information is also available by contacting Jared Hill at [email protected] or by calling 913-288-7375.