Category: KCKCC

KCKCC to hold m-pact Vocal Festival

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College will be the site of a November music festival held by the Los Angeles based pop-jazz vocal group, m-pact.

The m-pact Vocal Festival is Nov. 14 and 15 at the KCKCC Performing Arts Center. A non-competitive festival, vocal jazz ensembles, contemporary a capella groups and other small choral ensembles have the opportunity to work hands-on with the award-winning group.

In addition to the master classes and workshops, m-pact will also perform in a concert with KCKCC’s “The Standard” Vocal Jazz Ensemble. This concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the KCKCC Performing Arts Center.

Tickets for the concert are $15 and can be purchased from the festival’s website at https://www.m-pact.com/event/2490902/481366624/m-pact-vocal-festival. Acaville Internet Radio, which offers a range of a cappella music through its streaming service, will be on site to stream the concert at https://www.acaville.com/.

Described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “one of the best pop-jazz vocal groups in the world” m-pact is known for its sophisticated sound that has won the group Vocal Group of the Year at the L.A. Music Awards and an Indie nomination from the Independent Grammys.

The group has been named Grand National Champs of the Harmony Sweepstakes competition and has performed with artists such as Boyz II Men, Sheryl Crow, the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Maynard Ferguson Big Band and Natalie Cole, among many others. Their “signature sound” can also be heard in television theme songs as well as Disney feature films and on radio stations throughout the world.

Started in 1995, m-pact has made five full-length albums, three EP’s and several single releases and continue to receive rave reviews and multiple awards.

Billboard Magazine named them the “Best Unsigned Band” and in 2014, the group joined with New York a cappella powerhouse Duwende to produce “I Wish for All Time,” an a cappella tribute to Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. M-pact continues to thrill audiences with their innovative orchestrations and stage presence as well as their vocals as they work to stay true to the music they are performing.

KCKCC routs Labette 3-0 in next-to-last home volleyball game

Sophomore Tara Mattingly soared high to deliver a return under the watchful eyes of teammates, from left Michelle Dvorak, Amilex Lopez, Lauren Leavendusky and Gracie Golay (2) in KCKCC’s 3-0 sweep of Labette Wednesday. (KCKCC photo by Brandon Burgette)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College can make a strong claim for being the best unranked volleyball team in the Jayhawk Conference.

Unfortunately, that still leaves the Lady Blue Devils as the seventh best team and in eighth place in the current conference standings.

A decisive 3-0 home court winner over Labette Wednesday, the Blue Devils improved to 3-4 in conference play and 14-10 overall but they still remain a half-game behind Allen County (3-3) for seventh place in the Jayhawk with three contests to play. KCKCC does hold the tie-breaker over Allen by virtue of a 3-1 win.

KCKCC is back on the road Monday at Fort Scott and after a weekend in the Lincoln Land tournament in Springfield, Illinois, the Blue Devils go to Highland Oct. 23 and finish at home against Hesston in the annual Sophomore Game Oct. 30.

Ranked No. 2 nationally, Coffeyville (6-0) leads the conference followed by No. 6 Fort Scott (6-1), No. 4 Cowley (5-1), No. 7 Johnson County (5-2), No.10 Highland (3-3) and No. 13 Cloud County (3-3). Against all foes, the six ranked teams are 140-25.

The Blue Devils jumped on Labette early and often as they rolled to 25-10, 25-13, 25-13 wins.

“An all-around team win with everyone on our roster getting a chance to contribute,” KCKCC coach Mary Bruno-Ballou said. “Cassidy Crist had a career high day with 18 kills and only one error in the three sets and the defense was outstanding..

“Overall I was very pleased with the things we did. As a group we put into play a lot of things on which we worked this week. Now we have to gear up for a really competitive match at Fort Scott on Monday.”

Lauren Leavendusky, a sophomore right side, took aim at a big return in KCKCC’s 3-0 win over Labette Wednesday (KCKCC photo by Brandon Burgette)
Freshman Cassidy’s return volley was a blur as her 18 kills with only one error led KCKCC to a 3-0 sweep of Labette Wednesday night. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

Riley runnerup as Blue Devils finish 4th in KCKCC invitational

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

A season-long bugaboo caught up with Kansas City Kansas Community College’s young golf team Tuesday.

Second after Monday’s first round of the Blue Devil Invitational, the Blue Devils had to settle for fourth in the tournament played at Dub’s Dread Golf Club.

“Played just like a freshman team; one good round but we can’t put two good rounds together,” KCKCC coach Gary Shrader said.

Led by the team’s lone sophomore, Cameron Riley of Liberal, the Blue Devils trailed Hutchinson by just three strokes after the first round (304-307) but then fell back to fourth with a 327 Tuesday. Hutchinson finished first (608) followed by Washburn B, 618; Rockhurst B, 632; KCKCC, 634; Barton County, 635; and Bethel College, 699.

Riley (72-77-149) finished second after sharing the first round lead with medalist Charlie Crockett (72-72-144) of Hutchinson, both matching par with 72s.

Dylan Freund (75-84-159) of Cheney finished 17th, Jacob Hall (80-82-162) of Tonganoxie tied for 20th, Mark Towey (80-84- 164) of Bishop Carroll tied for 23rd, Kellen Welsh (83-83- 165) of Olathe West was 25th and Keegan Ellington (83-88-171) of Andover Central placed 31st.

“We played one really good round and were just three shots back of Hutchinson so I was pleased with that,” Shrader said. “An 80 playing the blue tees at Dub’s is a pretty good score. We made some mental mistakes and for some reason we never play well at Dub’s. We’ve been up and down all season, one good round out of two. But overall I was pretty happy. Perfect weather and good competitive teams.”

The Blue Devils close out the fall season Monday and Tuesday in the Tabor Invitational at Sandcreek Station in Newton, the site of next spring’s annual Jayhawk Conference championship.