JCCC volleyball team opens season ranked sixth in NJCAA

Story by Tyler Cundith
Pulled from www.jccc.edu

OVERLAND PARK, KS -- The Johnson County Community College volleyball team has been picked No. 6 in the NJCAA preseason volleyball for the 2008 season.

This is the third straight season the Cavaliers have been a top 10 pick to open a campaign. JCCC was ranked third in 2006 and second in 2007. JCCC finished ninth at the national tournament in 2006, and were runner-up last year. JCCC won the national championship in 2005.

The Cavaliers also open the campaign under the direction of a new coach, Jennifer Ei. She takes over after serving five years as Jill Stinson’s top assistant. Stinson stepped down after serving 11 years as JCCC’s volleyball coach.

This season, 10 ranked teams appear on JCCC’s schedule, including Iowa Western, ranked fourth in Division I volleyball, and Florida Community College-Jacksonville, ranked 25th in D-I.

JCCC will face eight ranked teams in Division II and will tested immediately in their first four matches, all against ranked teams. JCCC opens its season with No. 25 Longview Community College, Aug. 22, at JCCC.

The Cavaliers follow with No. 2 ranked and conference rival Cowley College later that evening, then face No. No. 4 Des Moines Area Community College and No. 5 Parkland College on Aug. 23.

Also ranked in Division II are No. 11 Marshalltown Community College (Oct. 4), No. 12 Central (Neb.) Community College (Sept. 20), No 14 Lincoln Land Community College (Sept. 19) and No. 19 Butler Community College (Oct. 27).

Additionally, Neosho County Community College, JCCC’s last conference mach of the season on Oct. 22, received votes and could be a contender in the race this season.

“Our schedule this year is similar to our schedules in the past,” Ei said. “We opened last year with nine ranked opponents to start the season. We are excited about the challenges this schedule presents, and it will benefit us when postseason arrives. We will have already have played big matches against tournament caliber competition.”

JCCC returns three players from last year’s squad, including 2007 All-American hitter Sydney Pemberton of Prairie Village, Kan. Other key returnees are hitter Ivy Morrison of Topeka, Kan., and defensive specialist Taylor Pruitt of Wichita, Kan.

JCCC’s newcomers consist of sophomore libero Caitlin Schaffstall (Blue Valley West), defensive specialist Susan Shaw (Blue Valley North), middle hitter Katie O’Conner (Bishop Miege), right-side hitter Beth Bruemmer (Lohman, Mo.), outside hitter Emily Forbes (Carbondale, Kan.), outside hitter Torey Lyman (Hutchinson, Kan.) outsider hitter Jordan Lockwood (Silver Lake, Kan.) and setter Codi Lawrence (Shawnee Mission West).

Schaffstall returns to the area after playing her freshman year at the University of Evansville.

Send me your comments at cfletch5@jccc.edu