Category: KCKCC

Six score in double figures as Lady Blue Devils move to 3-0

Freshman Faith Putz burst between two Park defenders for two of her 12 points in KCKCC’s 110-55 win over Park Thursday. Another freshman, Ikia Elam, who had 14 points, trailed the play. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information

With another game coming up Friday, Kansas City Kansas Community College coach Joe McKinstry went to his bench early and often in a 110-55 rout of Park University junior varsity Thursday.

The win was the third in a row for the unbeaten Blue Devils, who resume action Friday against William Penn’s junior varsity at 5:30 p.m. in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The KCKCC men also play at 7:30 p.m. and both games will be streamed by William Penn.

McKinstry played 12 Blue Devils, 11 scored and 10 played 10 or more minutes, not so much for the rest but the experience for his young squad.

“I think we have good depth and I want everyone who plays to do everything expected of them,” McKinstry said. “I’m not big on the scoreboard. Regardless of what the scoreboard says or the quality of the team we’re playing, I want our players playing hard and smart. I don’t want anyone playing on their own agenda and with our balanced scoring I think we did a good job of that. Games like this give us an opportunity to work hard and get better.”

The Blue Devils had just too much size, quickness and athleticism against Park, regularly beating the Pirates down the floor for an avalanche of layups. Knocking down 12-of-20 first quarter shots (.600), the Blue Devils surged to a 27-9 first quarter lead and led 56-21 at halftime thanks to a 40-foot buzzer beater by sophomore Aliyah Myers.

KCKCC was led by freshman Hannah Valentine and sophomores Jada Mayberry and Myers. Valentine had her first career double with game highs of 20 points and 10 rebounds; Mayberry had a career-high nine assists, seven rebounds and 15 points; and Myers stood out both offensively and defensively. Scoring 18 points and handing out six assists offensively, she led defensively with five steals along with five defensive rebounds and a blocked shot.

Three other Blue Devils were in double figures and a fourth narrowly missed. Freshmen Ikla Elam had 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting; Faith Putz scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds; and De’Jaria Guillroy scored 10 points while sophomore Mercer Roberts had eight points and seven rebounds.

Scoring at least 27 points in every quarter, the Blue Devils were 49-of-93 from the field for 52.7 percent although just 7-of-27 from 3-point (.259). They also controlled the rebounding 61-26 and forced 22 turnovers while committing 14.

Freshman Hannah Valentine went up for two of her game-high 20 points in KCKCC’s 110-55 win over Park junior varsity Thursday. Valentine also led in rebounds with 10. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
Hair flying, Aliyah Myers deftly bounced a pass to Lacy Whitcomb in KCKCC’s 110-55 win over Park University’s junior varsity team Thursday. Myers had 18 points, six rebounds, six steals and five assists. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

KCKCC’s Crist national volleyball player of week

Cassidy Crist (KCKCC photo)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information

Sophomore Cassidy Crist is the NJCAA Offensive Volleyball Player of the Week, an honor that came as no surprise to Kansas City Kansas Community College coach Mary Bruno-Ballou.

“Her statistics thus far are ridiculous,” Bruno-Ballou said. “For most players, 2 to 2½ kills a set is a good game. She’s averaging 5.2 kills a set. Our hitting average is about 2.00, hers is 3.66. And she’s second on our team in digs with 30. Being Player of the Week is a huge honor and accomplishment to her work ethic and mental toughness. We love having her in our program.”

Crist learned of her Player of the Week award at practice Wednesday.

“A total surprise. I didn’t even know what it was,” she said. Crist is also the Jayhawk Conference Player of the Week.

The Blue Devils are off to a 2-1 start this season, the lone loss coming at the hands of No. 14 ranked Lincoln Land in the opening triangular of the season. The highlight came Tuesday, a 3-0 upset at Cloud County, which entered the game ranked 21st nationally.

“That was a pretty fun win, especially since we didn’t have our starting middle and had others playing the position,” Crist said.

Bruno-Ballou said Crist’s ability as an outside hitter to track down out of the system or junk balls sets her apart from the average player.

“Outside hitters are the outlet,” she said. “They don’t get the perfect set but she’s turning out of system balls into kills. And as a six-rotation athlete, she does not come off the court.”

Idled for more than a year because of the COVID Pandemic, Crist rebounded quickly.

“It’s hard to not play in over a year and bounce back but she has that ability to find her passion and fully commit to it,” Bruno-Ballou said.

A 6-0 sophomore who played at DeSoto High School, Crist was targeted early after Bruno-Ballou saw her play on the club circuit.

“I loved her athleticism and the way she played for the true love of the game,” Bruno-Ballou said.

Although there were other options, the decision was easy for Crist.

“I was pretty focused all the way,” she said. “It’s a good school, I like the coaches a lot. They work us hard but it’s a lot of fun. And I live in Shawnee so I can live at home.”

Her recruitment came with total family support. Her mother, Lynn, aided in the recruiting process; her father, Mike, put together highlight videos. There are also two younger sisters, Ally and Lydia, a volleyball player at St. James Academy.

Crist, who is looking at childhood education as a possible career, is hopeful of continuing her volleyball at a four-year college but because of the pandemic, she has an option only current players have – an additional year at KCKCC, something she will consider.

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.