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 11/14/2005
Six JCCC Volleyball Players Earn Honors
OVERLAND PARK, KS -- Six members of the No. 2 ranked Johnson County Community College volleyball team recently earned post season recognition for outstanding play during the 2005 campaign. Sophomores Lauren Kracl, Emily Escher and Ashley Simmons, and freshman Katie Latenser were named to the NJCAA District K first-team. Second-team honors went to sophomores Christine Watson and Katie Jaschke. In addition, Kracl, Escher, Latenser and Watson were named to the Kansas Jayhawk Community College All-Eastern Division.
Kracl, an outside hitter from Eudora, Kan. was voted the MVP of the East Jayhawk Conference and District K. She becomes the fifth player in JCCC history to garner conference MVP honors. Kracl also was twice selected as a KJCCC Player of the Week, and in mid-September, she was named the NJCAA D-II National Player of the Week. She leads the team in kills with 336, and she ranks among the top players nationally in kills per game. Her 336 kills currently rank 12th for a season at JCCC. She ranks third on the team in digs with 399, and that is the seventh-best season total in Cavaliers history. Kracl joined the Cavaliers program after earning honorable mention All-MIAA accolades while playing for Missouri Western University last year
Escher, a right side hitter from Topeka, Kan., earned first-team All-District K and East Jayhawk Conference this season. She also was twice selected as KJCCC Player of the Week during the season. She leads the team in services aces with 45. She ranks second on the team in kills with 287, and digs with 416. Her 416 digs tie the fourth-best season in JCCC history. For her career, she currently ranks seventh all-time for career aces with 80, fifth for career kills with 575 and fifth for career digs with 602. Escher earned second-team all-district and all-conference honors as a freshman.
Simmons, a middle hitter from El Dorado Springs, Mo., leads the team in total blocks with 117, and she ranks among the NJCAA leaders in blocks per game. Her 1.2 blocks per game average currently ranks 20th nationally. She also ranks third on the team with 222 kills and her .290 hitting percentage ranks second on the squad. Simmons became the third JCCC player selected as a KJCCC Player of the Week, earning the honor Oct. 31. Simmons was an all-district performer her freshman year as well.
Latenser, a local product from Notre Dame de Sion High School, is considered the top libero in District K and the East Jayhawk Conference this season, earning first-team honors on both teams. She leads the Cavaliers with 493 digs, which is a new JCCC record, breaking the previous mark of 452 set in 1991. She also ranks among the top 25 nationally in digs per game. She also ranks second on the team with 42 service aces.
Jaschke, a middle hitter from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, was named to the District K second-team this season. She ranks as JCCC’s second leading blocker with 27 total blocks, and she has 35 service aces, third-best on the team. Also has 161 kills and 103 digs, and she is hitting an impressive 275. Escher also earned second-team all-district accolades her freshman season.
Watson, a setter from Fontana, Kan., earned second-team All-District K and East Jayhawk Conference honors this season. She was also an all-conference pick her freshman campaign. She lead the team with 709 assists, an average of 8.1 per game. That total currently ranks 14th on JCCC’s season chart, and she ranks among the top setters in the NJCAA. This season, Watson became one of 10 players in JCCC history to record over 1,000 assists for a career.
Kracl, an outside hitter from Eudora, Kan. was voted the MVP of the East Jayhawk Conference and District K. She becomes the fifth player in JCCC history to garner conference MVP honors. Kracl also was twice selected as a KJCCC Player of the Week, and in mid-September, she was named the NJCAA D-II National Player of the Week. She leads the team in kills with 336, and she ranks among the top players nationally in kills per game. Her 336 kills currently rank 12th for a season at JCCC. She ranks third on the team in digs with 399, and that is the seventh-best season total in Cavaliers history. Kracl joined the Cavaliers program after earning honorable mention All-MIAA accolades while playing for Missouri Western University last year
Escher, a right side hitter from Topeka, Kan., earned first-team All-District K and East Jayhawk Conference this season. She also was twice selected as KJCCC Player of the Week during the season. She leads the team in services aces with 45. She ranks second on the team in kills with 287, and digs with 416. Her 416 digs tie the fourth-best season in JCCC history. For her career, she currently ranks seventh all-time for career aces with 80, fifth for career kills with 575 and fifth for career digs with 602. Escher earned second-team all-district and all-conference honors as a freshman.
Simmons, a middle hitter from El Dorado Springs, Mo., leads the team in total blocks with 117, and she ranks among the NJCAA leaders in blocks per game. Her 1.2 blocks per game average currently ranks 20th nationally. She also ranks third on the team with 222 kills and her .290 hitting percentage ranks second on the squad. Simmons became the third JCCC player selected as a KJCCC Player of the Week, earning the honor Oct. 31. Simmons was an all-district performer her freshman year as well.
Latenser, a local product from Notre Dame de Sion High School, is considered the top libero in District K and the East Jayhawk Conference this season, earning first-team honors on both teams. She leads the Cavaliers with 493 digs, which is a new JCCC record, breaking the previous mark of 452 set in 1991. She also ranks among the top 25 nationally in digs per game. She also ranks second on the team with 42 service aces.
Jaschke, a middle hitter from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, was named to the District K second-team this season. She ranks as JCCC’s second leading blocker with 27 total blocks, and she has 35 service aces, third-best on the team. Also has 161 kills and 103 digs, and she is hitting an impressive 275. Escher also earned second-team all-district accolades her freshman season.
Watson, a setter from Fontana, Kan., earned second-team All-District K and East Jayhawk Conference honors this season. She was also an all-conference pick her freshman campaign. She lead the team with 709 assists, an average of 8.1 per game. That total currently ranks 14th on JCCC’s season chart, and she ranks among the top setters in the NJCAA. This season, Watson became one of 10 players in JCCC history to record over 1,000 assists for a career.