Month: January 2021

Blue Devils get gratifying volleyball upset on the road

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information

Mary Bruno-Ballou has had many wins in her 10 years as Kansas City Kansas Community College volleyball coach, some bigger than others.

One of those came in the Blue Devils’ 3-0 upset of No. 21 Cloud County in Concordia Tuesday night. Not only was Cloud higher ranked nationally than the No. 24 Blue Devils, the Thunderbirds were predicted to finish fourth in the Jayhawk Conference, KCKCC fifth.

Because of inclement weather, the match had to be postponed from Monday, stripping the Blue Devils of their only starting middle blocker, Michelle Dvorak, who was scheduled for a nursing exam that could not be re-scheduled.

“We won with a lineup we just tried in our walk-throughs,” Bruno-Ballou said. “Players were playing positions they normally don’t play. After not playing for almost 2½ years and barely cleared from injury, Jordan Johnson came in and started at middle for us although she had only played six-on-six for one day.”

Bruno-Ballou said she was particularly pleased with the input from her players and assistant coaches Aysa Herron and Dee Bruno.

“Our athletes are resilient and amazing; the team so extraordinary. And the coaching staff was superb, thinking outside the box to be successful,” she said.

Led by 18 kills by Cassidy Crist, the Blue Devils were totally in control in the 25-21, 25-17, 25-20 sweep to move to 2-1 on the season heading into next Monday’s Jayhawk Conference home opener against Johnson County, the Jayhawk pre-season favorite. The match will be streamed on the KCKCC Blue Devil website at 6:30 p.m.

Accident reported on I-70

A Chevrolet Tahoe was eastbound on I-70 east of 78th Street at 6 a.m. Wednesday when it lost control on the slick roadway.

The Tahoe left the road, went to the right, and struck a bridge rail, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol trooper’s report.

The driver, a 50-year-old Kansas City, Kansas, woman, had a possible minor injury and was taken to a hospital in Johnson County, according to the report.

Police notes

Damage reported to fire headquarters

Damage was reported at 1:47 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, to the Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department headquarters at 815 N. 6th St., according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

Officers took a suspect into custody in front of the building, according to the report. The suspect had used rocks to break several windows, causing damage of more than $1,500, the report stated.

The suspect was taken to a hospital for evaluation of a previous knee injury and then booked into the Wyandotte County Jail, according to the report.

Shooting into home reported on Cleveland Avenue

A shooting into a home was reported at 4:37 a.m. Jan. 26 in the 10000 block of Cleveland Avenue, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

When police arrived, they found a shell casing in the street and possible damage to a house that was occupied, according to the report. When the homeowner returned later, it was confirmed the home had been struck, the report stated.

Victim injured in shooting on Birch Drive

A shooting was reported at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 in the 2300 block of Birch Drive, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The victim stated he had been shot by an unknown male, according to the report. EMS transported the victim to an area hospital where he was listed in stable condition before surgery, according to the report.

Holdup reported on South 47th

A business was robbed at 7:49 p.m. Jan. 26 at 2800 S. 47th St., according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

A cashier stated that a male suspect approached the counter to make a purchase, the report stated. Then the suspect gave a note to the cashier that said, “I have a gun. Give me all the money. Don’t say anything.”

The victim stated she feared for her safety and gave all the money in the register to the suspect, according to the report. The suspect took the money and left the store in an unknown direction, the report stated.

There were no injuries. Video surveillance was gathered, according to the report.

Victim shot after exiting vehicle on New Jersey

A shooting was reported at 10:40 p.m. Jan. 26 in the 3100 block of New Jersey, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The victim said after exiting his vehicle in front of his house, he heard a shot and felt pain in his ankle, according to the report.

EMS took the victim to a hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, the report stated.