Kansas City Kansas Community College’s ninth ranked Lady Blue Devils took no chances of letting an early 8-point lead get away Saturday.
Limiting Central Community College to one free throw the first seven minutes of the second quarter, the Blue Devils used a 12-1 run to open a 36-19 lead on the way to a 90-57 win in Columbus, Nebraska. The win boosted KCKCC’s record to 2-0 heading into the home opener against Park University’s junior varsity Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
Ten Blue Devils scored in the win, four in double figures. Freshmen Hanna Valentine had 18 points and DeQuaria Guillroy 16 to lead the way while sophomores Aliyah Myers and Jada Mayberry added 12 and 11. In addition, freshmen Trinity McDow scored 8 points and Faith Putz and Lacy Whitcomb 6 each.
Myers also had a career-high eight assists as KCKCC had 21 assist5s on 29 field goals. DeQuaria Guillroy led rebounding with eight. The Blue Devils had only a 32-31 rebound edge but forced the Raiders in 29 turnovers while committing just 12.
“Very pleased for this group to be sitting at 2-0 right now,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “We still have a lot to improve on but forcing 29 turnovers and having the balanced scoring today definitely tells me that we have a very high ceiling.”
KCKCC bolted to a 24-16 first quarter lead with an aggressive fast-breaking attack and led 42-22 at the half by knocking down 13-of-28 shots (.464) and 11-of-15 free throws (.733). The Blue Devils finished with 29-of-66 from the field (.439) and 23-of-30 from the foul line (.767).
Eight sophomores will provide leadership to the 2021 KCKCC volleyball team – front row, from left, Nicole Almestica, Justice Davis, Adriana Velez and Cassidy Crist; second row, Mia Tomasic, Jordan Johnson, Michelle Dvorak and McKenna Johnson. (KCKCC photo)
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information
Kansas City Kansas Community College will enter the first spring volleyball season in history ranked No. 24 in the national poll of NJCAA Division II colleges.
Unfortunately, six other members of the Jayhawk Conference are also ranked among the nation’s top 24 teams headed by No. 2 Coffeyville and No. 3 Cowley College. Johnson County is No. 11, Highland No. 12, Fort Scott No. 19 and Cloud County No. 21.
“The toughest conference in Division II volleyball,” KCKCC coach Mary Bruno-Ballou said. Ironically, the Blue Devils are No. 5 in the Jayhawk pre-season poll ahead of Coffeyville (No. 6) and Fort Scott (No. 7). Johnson County has been tabbed the pre-season favorite followed by Cowley, Highland, Cloud and KCKCC.
The Blue Devils open play this weekend, facing No. 14 Lincoln Land and Metropolitan on Metro’s Longview campus Saturday and then open conference play at Cloud on Monday.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, fall competition was pushed back to this spring for the first time ever.
“I know our student-athletes did not sign up or envision this as their collegiate playing experience, yet the resiliency and unwavering spirit of our players and staff has been all inspiring,” Bruno-Ballou said. “They show up every day with heart and dedication. We truly have one of our best groups of athletes. Their character is unmatched and their flexibility to be able to step on the court and compete is amazingly positive.”
In her 10th season as head coach, Bruno-Ballou has her biggest squad, 20 players when healthy. Seven are sophomores headed by 6-0 outside hitter Cassidy Crist of DeSoto, 5-11 middle blocker Michelle Dvorak of Park Hill South and 5-6 setter Adriana Velez along with 6-0 right side Justice Davis of Albuquerque and defensive specialist Nicole Almestica.
“Cassidy Crist is a force to be reckoned with in this conference; definitely one of our most dynamic athletes and the highest vertical on the team,” Bruno-Ballou said. “Captain Michelle Dvorak has already committed to Saint Mary and will hold down the middle. Captain Adriana Velez will be our starting setter with the ability to run the court well while we expect great contributions from Justice Davis, who played the right side last season before being injured.”
Unfortunately, two key returning sophomores, 6-2 Captain Jordan Johnson and 6-0 McKenna Johnson of Shawnee, suffered non-volleyball injuries in the off-season.
“Both were going to be contributors,” Bruno-Ballou said. “We’re hoping to get them sometime this spring.”
Because of their injuries, the Blue Devils have only one other middle hitter, 5-10 Nicole Hughes of Denver.
“Her athleticism and ceiling are so high,” Bruno-Ballou said.
Three freshmen will compete on the outside and right side – 5-10 Mia Tomasic from St. Teresa Academy, 5-9 Trinity Holland of Fort Worth and Jo-Annie Perez of Puerto Rico.
“All three bring excellent playing qualities.”
Freshmen Megan Bechtold of Haysville and Patricia Kolodziejczyk of Spain will back up Velez at the setter position along with versatile Abigail Marcouillier of Tonganoxie, who has the flexibility to play almost every position.
Strength, asserts Bruno-Ballou, will be the Blue Devil defense.
“The best defensive corps we have had in recent years; each one has the ability to step in and wear the libero jersey,” she said.
That group includes Kelcey Hund of Leavenworth, Madi Hajek of Oklahoma City, Jessica Rodrigues, Nicole Almestica and Marcouillier.
One of the biggest additions this spring has been new assistant Asya Herron, who brings 12 years of Jayhawk Conference at Neosho County.
“Her knowledge, competitiveness and passion bring the greatest additions we could imagine,” Bruno-Ballou said. “She understands what is needed to be successful in this conference and shows up every day full of enthusiasm and love of the game.”
Additional experience comes with Dee Bruno, in her 13th season coaching KCKCC volleyball.
“Her knowledge and love of the game along with her sense of humor is a benefit to our program,” she said. “We have one of the most knowledgeable and player-focused coaching groups in the NJCAA.”
Scoring 115 points will win 99 percent of all basketball games, just not enough for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s men at No. 6 ranked North Central Missouri Wednesday in Trenton.
Wiping out a 5-point KCKCC lead with 8.5 seconds remaining, North Central won a wild 118-115 double overtime thriller in the opening game for both teams. The 115 points are the second most ever scored by a Blue Devil team in a loss and the combined 233 points are also the second most.
KCKCC led by as many as 16 points in the first half, the 19th Blue Devils dominating with fast-breaks, forced turnovers and rebounding. The Blue Devils led 48-37 at the half and not until the final seconds did the Pirates ever catch up.
The Blue Devils still led 90-82 with less than a minute remaining and 93-88 with 16 seconds only to have Jeramy Shaw hit a 3-pointer and then pick off an errant KCKCC in-bounds pass and tie it 93-93 with a jarring dunk with 6.5 seconds left.
The Blue Devils had to overcome a 98-93 deficit in the first overtime thanks to sophomores Caleb Jones and Deron McDaniel, who combined for all 11 KCKCC points in the overtime. McDaniel’s 3-pointer cut the lead to 100-99 and then Jones tied it 104-104 with a pair of layups and free throw.
After trailing 108-104 early in the second overtime, North Central led most of the rest of the way only to have McDaniel drain a difficult 3-pointer for a 115-114 KCKCC lead with 35 seconds left.
But fouls which cost the Blue Devils Robert Rhodes in regulation and Jones in the second overtime proved fatal, the Pirates making four of six free throws in the final 29 seconds and blocking KCKCC’s one attempt at regaining the lead.
McDaniel scored 32 points and Jones 22, both career highs, to lead the Blue Devils. Jermaine Yarbough added 12 points and Rhodes and Trey Bates 11 each, Cody Dortch and Shayon Janloo 7 apiece. Rhodes also had a team-high eight rebounds before fouling out.
The Blue Devils shot well from the field, knocking down 37 of 75 shots for 49.3 percent, and 10-of-25 three-pointers for 40 percent.
However, the Blue Devils were outscored by 38-31 from the foul line and were outrebounded 49-36. The Pirates went to the foul line 52 times as the Blue Devils were whistled for 34 fouls and lost Jones, Rhodes and Bates on fouls.
Six Pirates finished with 14 or more points led by 18 each from Kolten Griffin and Shaw. Shaw also led all rebounders with 13. The Pirates were 37-of-84 from the field for 44 percent and 6-of-22 from 3-point (.272).
“A great learning experience for us,” KCKCC Coach Brandon Burgette said. “We had plenty of chances to win the game but we gave up too many offensive rebounds and let them shoot 52 free throws. I liked the way our guys competed and played hard. It wasn’t good enough. It’s on me down the stretch to do a better job of managing time, rotations and play calling down the stretch. It’s great to learn from in the long run but we hat to be better down the stretch to win games.”
The Blue Devils play Central College in Columbus, Nebraska, Saturday at 3 p.m. before their home opener against Link Year Prep Monday at 7 p.m. There are no spectators at KCKCC athletic events to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but home games will be streamed through the KCKCC website, www.kckcc.edu.
