Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

Story by Tyler Cundith
11/21/2005

JCCC Wins NJCAA D-II Volleyball Championship

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Johnson County Community College is the champion of NJCAA Division II volleyball.  The Cavaliers completed their run through the tournament Saturday evening, Nov. 19, with a 3-games-to-1 victory over East Jayhawk Conference rival and No. 1 ranked Cowley County, in the title game in Scottsdale, Ariz.  It is JCCC’s first national championship, and sixth appearance in a national tournament.  The Cavaliers finished the season 35-4, the most wins under head coach Jill Stinson.  The team also improved to 14-0 in Scottsdale this season.  Earlier in the campaign, JCCC went 9-0 competing in the Valley of the Sun Tournament hosted by Scottsdale Community College.

Three sophomores, Lauren Kracl, Katie Jaschke and Emily Escher, were named to the National All-Tournament Team. Kracl was selected the tournament MVP.  Stinson was received the NJCAA Division II Coach of the Year award.

JCCC, ranked No 2 nationally entering the tournament, opened the match with a 30-28 win, followed by another close win, 33-31.  Cowley cut their deficit in game three, winning 31-29, but JCCC closed out the match with a 30-28 victory in game four.  The win avenged a loss to Cowley County earlier this season, which prevented JCCC from winning the conference title.

JCCC reached the title game by downing host Scottsdale Community College, 3-games-to-2.   JCCC took the early advantage, winning the first two matches, 30-19 and 30-24.  Scottsdale, the No. 4 ranked team in the country, fought back with consecutive wins of 30-22 and 30-27, sending the match to a fifth and final game.  JCCC prevailed 15-13.

Stinson said Kracl, Escher and Katie Latenser passed the ball extremely well in the tournament, particularly the final two matches. 

“Those three handled the ball so well, and Tenser (Katie Latenser) served an ace on the match point,” Stinson said.  “I could tell from her toss and hit it was going to go in.  Katie served on match point in regionals and missed it, so it was great to see 

Stinson said the Cavaliers got great effort from those three, as well as Jaschke, Ashley Simmons, Christine Watson, Krissy Busboom and Amanda Hester.  Emily Goodlin, Lindsey Carpenter, Chelsea Davison and Whitney Segrist also played key points to help JCCC win the championship. 

The Cavaliers opened the tournament with a 3-1 win over Iowa Lakes, a team JCCC defeated twice earlier in the season.  The  Lakers opened the match with a 30-21 win, but JCCC rebounded with three straight game victories, winning 30-24, 30-28 and 31-29.  JCCC followed with a 3-0 win over McHenry County (Ill.), posting wins of 30-18, 30-22, 30-19.  The Cavaliers defeated Central Nebraska 30-20, 28-30, 30-16 and 33-31 in the quarterfinals of the tournament. 

“We were a little shaky in the first match,” Stinson said.  “We had some nerves when the tournament started, but after that, the girls played extremely well.  They said it helped we had played there (Scottsdale) earlier this year.”

This was the sixth time JCCC had qualified for a national championship, and second time under current head coach Jill Stinson.  The Cavaliers previous best finish occurred in 1982 when they placed fourth under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Susan Brown.