Adriana Velez named KJCCC setter of week as Blue Devils post second straight upset win
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information
Kansas City Kansas Community College freshman Kelcey Hund is the NJCAA Division II National Defensive Player of the Week.
And sophomore Adriana Velez is the KJCCC (Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference) Setter of the Week – both selections coming on the heels of the Blue Devils second upset of national-ranked foes in three days.
On Saturday, KCKCC (9-7) stunned No. 7 Highland in three sets 3-0 and followed up Monday with an identical 3-0 win at No. 18 Neosho County in Chanute.
“We played excellent volleyball, knocking off two ranked teams in two matches,” KCKCC coach Mary Bruno-Ballou said. “We are peaking at the right time; I’m really proud of this group and their attitudes and work ethic.”
The Blue Devils are home for two matches Thursday, facing Cowley College at 4 p.m. and Metropolitan Community College at 8 p.m. Cowley and Metro will square off at 6 p.m.
A libero from Leavenworth, Hund averaged more than six digs per set and passed a cumulative 2.6 in three matches last week. Hund had a whopping 27 digs in the 3-0 upset of Highland and 13 more in Monday’s win over Neosho and currently ranks No. 12 nationally.
In addition to being National Player of the Week, Hund is also the KJCCC Defensive Player of the Week. She is also the second Blue Devil to earn national honors. Sophomore Cassidy Crist was named NJCAA DII Offensive Player of the Week the first week of the season.
“Our starting libero since day one, Kelcey is a great team player,” Bruno-Ballou said. “Selfless, she’s one of the hardest workers in our gym; does all the little things right; uses her voice well; and has stepped in as a leader in the back row. She’s had a great season so far and is getting the national attention she deserves. The greatest kid, we love her and are so very proud of her and her work ethic.”
A native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Velez leads the nation in NJCAA Division II in assists with 634, 30 more than the runnerup. She had 40 assists against Highland and 32 against Neosho.
In three matches last week, Velez had 139 assists including 45 in a 3-1 loss to No. 4 Johnson County in a match decided by a total of nine points in four sets and then followed up with an incredible 54 assists in a five-set heartbreaking loss to Allen County.
“Adriana is such a key element in our offense,” Bruno-Ballou said. “She runs a 5-1 offense for our team and does an excellent job – always consistent with a drive to make her successful and a winner.”
Led by Cassidy Crist, KCKCC avenged an earlier 3-1 loss at the hands of No. 18 Neosho. Ranked No. 3 in the nation in kills with 287, Crist had 18 of the Blue Devils’ 36 kills in the 25-23, 25-22, 25-16 blanking.
Michelle Dvorak added seven and Mia Tomasic five. Tomasic also had 10 digs and Crist eight to go along with Hund’s 15 and Velez’ 27 saves.