08/23/12

Story by Tyler Cundith

Volleyball – No. 8 Lady Cavaliers ready to begin 2012 campaign

OVERLAND PARK, KS – The Johnson County Community College volleyball program has a rich tradition. However, in the last seven years, the Lady Cavaliers have had a string of successes that rivals all programs nationally. Johnson County has appeared in seven straight NJCAA D-II tournaments, winning the title in 2005, and posting runner-up finishes in 2007, 2008 and 2010. Only Hagerstown, Illinois Central, Kishwaukee and conference rival Cowley can lay the same claim. 

The last four tournament appearances have come under the direction of head coach Jennifer Ei, and she owns four top-10 finishes, and two of the three runner-up finishes. Ei enters 2012 looking to extend her string to five straight national tournament berths, and the program’s to eight straight. But that is not all they are looking to do – this year’s team has its sights on the grand prize – the NJCAA Championship Trophy. 

The rest of the country agrees Johnson County is one of the elite programs this season, as the Lady Cavaliers were given the eighth spot in the annual NJCAA D-II Preseason Poll. 

Ei has the luxury of leadership and experience on this year’s roster, with six players returning, including All-American setter Jessica Andersen, All-Region VI libero Sara Slater and all-conference libero/defensive specialist Emily Bragaw. Also back are middle/right side hitters Allison Ewing, Shannon McCarty and Perri Tucker. Ei also has added libero BreeAnna Tibbs, a transfer from Arizona Western College, along with seven true freshmen. 

“Collectively, these sophomores are great leaders and extremely hard workers with a vision to make major contributions to the team’s success this season,” Ei said. “We believe all these players will contribute one way or another to this year’s success.” 

Johnson County will again face a brutal schedule that features 11 schools that appear in one of the NJCAA Preseason Polls. Ei’s Lady Cavaliers will be tested immediately, facing six ranked programs in their first eighth matches of the season. In their opening weekend Aug. 24-25, JCCC battles No. 13 Longview, No. 3 Kishwaukee and No. 11 Central. A week later in Toledo, Ohio, the Lady Cavaliers take on No 7, Parkland, No. 2 Oakland and No. 15 Owens. 

The other ranked teams on JCCC’s 2012 schedule are Iowa Lakes (No. 4-Sept. 22), Kaskaskia (received voted D-I-Sept. 29), Kansas City Kansas (received votes D-II-Oct. 3), Barton (received votes-Oct. 12) and defending national champion and conference rival Cowley (No.1 – Oct. 24). The Cowley match will be played in the JCCC Gymnasium, and most likely, the conference title will be on the line. 

“We expect our team to be competitive and work hard throughout the season,” Ei said. “We also expect our team to be pushed. It is important to play good competition to see where we are and how hard we need to work. This team will grow and learn every day and will work together as a team.”

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