by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Safely past non-conference foe Avila University junior varsity 3-0 Monday night, the 2017 volleyball season now begins in earnest for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s young volleyball team.
Newcomer Cloud County invades KCKCC Field House Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to open play in the Jayhawk Conference. It will be the first meeting between the two teams in several years. An NJCAA Division I team in recent years, Cloud has moved to Division II this season.
Then it’s the annual Southeast Iowa tournament in West Burlington Friday and Saturday for the Blue Devils before Coffeyville, the defending national champion and No. 1 ranked, comes to town next Wednesday.
The Lady Blue Devils surged to a 25-14 win in Monday’s opener, turned back a late Avila comeback for a 25-20 win in the second set and the built leads of 10-2 and 13-4 on the way to a 25-14 third game win.
“I thought we played very well,” KCKCC coach Mary Bruno-Ballou said. “Avila is a young team and I thought we responded well. It was a good experience and opportunity for our young freshmen to contribute. Now the season heats up against a team we haven’t seen for a while. I’m looking forward to a very competitive match.”
Bruno-Ballou was particularly happy with the play of her “10” hitters, right side and outside hitters Amilex Lopez Ayala, Madison Wright, Tara Mattingly and Katelyn Mask, all freshmen.
“I thought they played very well,” Bruno-Ballou said.