by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Led by a trio of sophomores, Kansas City Kansas Community College knocked off one nationally ranked team while splitting four matches in the tough Lincoln Land Volleyball Tournament in Springfield, Illinois, Friday and Saturday.
The Lady Blue Devils opened with a 3-0 win over Waubonsee but dropped a close 3-0 decision to No. 2 ranked Parkland in Friday’s second match.
On Saturday, the Blue Devils defeated the host team, No. 15 ranked Lincoln Land 3-1, before losing 3-0 to No. 7 Grand Rapids, Mich.
The split assured the Blue Devils (17-15) of a winning season and set up the biggest match of the season, a season-ending contest at Hesston (3-6) Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. A win and KCKCC (2-7) will advance into the Region VI playoffs, a loss will end the season.
“A must win position to get into playoffs,” said KCKCC coach Mary Bruno-Ballou, whose Blue Devils are coming off a strong performance in Springfield.
“We played well in a very competitive tournament, especially against Parkland, the No. 2 team in the nation,” Bruno-Ballou said. The Blue Devils twice took Parkland to the wire, losing 25-23, 25-17, 27-25.
“Our players from the starters to those who came off the bench came with a fantastic work ethic and attitude. Unfortunately, we got tired against Grand Rapids right after beating Lincoln Land as evidenced by the statistics and level of play.”
The Blue Devils got big numbers from setter Kelsey Rankin, libero Kelli Sleefe and middle blocker Randi Johnson, all sophomores. Rankin had 67 assists and 29 digs in the four games; Sleefe 65 digs and Johnson 35 kills while a quartet of freshmen Tara Mattingly, Gracie Golay, Natatlia Vega Aponte and Amilex Lopez Ayala made major contributions.
Mattingly had 10 kills; Rankin 12 assists and Golay 10; and Sleefe 11 digs and Aponte 8 as the Blue Devils defeated Waubonsee 25-17, 25-20, 25-13. Against No. 2 Parkland, Ayala had 15 kills, Mattingly 8 and Johnson 7; Rankin 17 assists; and Sleefe 17 digs and Aponte 13.
Rankin’s 22 assists and 13 digs led the way in the upset of No. 15 Lincoln Land 25-14, 23-25, 25-23, 25-15.
Golay added 18 assists, Sleefe led in digs with 23 and Johnson and Mattingly had 11 kills each. Johnson also had 11 kills, Sleefe 14 digs and Rankin 16 assists and 5 digs in a 25-17, 25-19, 27-25 loss to No. 7 Grand Rapids.