by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Youth will be served when it comes to volleyball at Kansas City Kansas Community College during the 2017 season. With only four returning sophomores, coach Mary Bruno will be counting heavily on 11 freshmen newcomers.
“I’m very excited about this group of freshmen,” said Bruno, who is in her seventh season as head coach. “We have a group with a very competitive spirit. They are hardworking, team oriented, quick and dynamic.”
The Lady Blue Devils will open a 27- game schedule Friday and Saturday when they compete in the “Battle of the Dells,” a 22-team tournament in Wisconsin Dells. KCKCC will clash with a pair of Illinois teams on Friday, meeting Sauk Valley of Dixon and Carl Sandburg of Galesburg. On Saturday, they’ll go up against South Suburban of South Holland, Ill., and Owens Community College of Toledo, Ohio.
The Blue Devils then return home Wednesday, Aug. 30, to open Jayhawk Conference play against Labette. It’s the first of three straight home conference games.
It is the enthusiasm and passion that Bruno believes will overcome a lack of experience. Of the four returnees, only two played the entire 2016 season – 5-10 middle blocker Alissia Nevarez of Turner and setter/defensive specialist Erin Reilly of Belton, Mo.
Injuries significantly reduced the playing time of the other two returnees. Katie Heeter, a 5-10 outside hitter from Lenexa, Kan., tore her ACL three weeks into the season while 6-1 middle blocker Morgan Schwarz of Burleson, Texas, was unable to play until October due to an ACL injury suffered in high school.
Strength of the squad will come from depth, versatility and athleticism. Heeter and three freshmen will vie for court time as outside hitters. The frosh are 5-8 Brittneyy Winter of Belton, Mo.; 5-10 Amanda Dickie of Olathe, Kan.; and 5-8 Beneisha Williams of North Little Rock, Ark.
“They are a very athletic group with good jumpers and great competitors,” Bruno said.
The middle blocker and right side positions will be a combination of the two returnees, Nevarez and Schwarz, and three lanky freshmen – 6-0 Randi Johnson of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; 6-3 Lauren Leavendusky of Holton, Kan.; and 5-9 Mallory Harris of North Little Rock, Ark. A lefthander, Leavendusky will play just the right side but versatility will allow the other four to rotate in both positions.
Kelsey Rankin, a freshman from Omaha, Neb., and Paige Dresslaer of Diamond, Mo., are the leaders at the setter position.
“Rankin runs a great offense and Erin Reilly set some for us last year and could also be used there,” Bruno said.
All four defensive specialists will also vie for the starting job of Libero. In addition to Reilly, the freshmen candidates are 5-8 Kelli Sleefe of Wichita, Kan.; 5-7 Jaylie Thornton of Manhattan, Kan.; and 5-4 McKenna Scanlon of Leavenworth, Kan.
The Lady Blue Devils will enter Jayhawk Conference play ranked fifth in a preseason poll of conference coaches. Coffeyville is ranked No. 1 followed by Cowley County, Johnson County, Fort Scott and KCKCC. Coaching assistants are veteran Mary Bruno and newcomer Blair Russell, KCKCC’s first All-America first team selection.
Through a quirk in the schedule (which is set by the Jayhawk Conference), the Blue Devils will have only one home match in October after playing four of their first five conference matches at home.
“The first part of our schedule will be very tough and October will be a big travel month,” Bruno said. KCKCC’s first four conference games include JCCC at home and Cowley on the road.
The annual KCKCC tournament also comes early (Sept. 22-23). KCKCC will face Southwestern Iowa and Iowa Central in Friday matches; Southeast Nebraska and Labette on Saturday. Other teams in the 8-team field are Cowley, Longview and Wentworth.
Kansas City Kansas Community College
2017 Volleyball Schedule
Aug. 25 – Battle for the Dells, Wisconsin Dells TBA
Aug. 26 – Battle for the Dells, Wisconsin Dells TBA
Aug. 30 – LABETTE*, Home 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 6 – JOHNSON COUNTY*, Home 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 13 – HIGHLAND*, Home 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 – Cowley College*, Arkansas City 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 – KCKCC Tournament 1 & 3 p.m.
Sept. 23 – KCKCC Tournament 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Sept. 27 – INDEPENDENCE*, Home 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 29 – Hesston+, Hesston 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 – Longview, Lee’s Summit, MO. 6 p.m.
Oct. 6 – Central Tournament, Columbus, Neb, 3 & 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 – Central Tournament, Columbus, Neb. 1 & 5 p.m.
Oct. 11 – Allen County*, Iola 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 – Coffeyville*, Away 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 20 – Lincoln Land Tourney, Springfield, Ill. 5 & 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 – Lincoln Land Tourney 9:30 & 11: 30 a.m.
Oct. 25 – Neosho County*, Chanute 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 30 – FORT SCOTT*, Home 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 4 – Region VI Playoffs, TBA TBA
Nov. 15-18 – National Tournament, Charleston, W. Va. TBA
– Jayhawk Conference + – District VI