Solis, Beougher named NJCAA All-Americans
The Cowley College volleyball team saw two players recognized by the NJCAA as All-Americans. Freshmen Vivianna Solis was selected a first-team All-American, and sophomore Laci Beougher was selected a second-team All-American. The selections brought Cowley's total All-American award count to 42 honors spread across 31 players. It marks the 19th straight season with an All-American selection.
"We are very proud of Vivianna and Laci on being honored with All-American awards." Cowley coach Steven Gream said. "It is such a joy to see these quality athletes be recognized among the many talented athletes in the NJCAA and even our tough conference. Both put in the work all season to improve each day, and both would say they could not have earned this honor without their teammates. They and their teammates worked so hard this year, and these honors are a testament of a total 'Team First' attitude where each player worked for and played for each other."
Solis, a native of San Antonio, Texas, was the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division Most Valuable Player, Setter of the Year, and Freshman of the Year. She finished the 2022 season with 1,612 assists at 11.77 assists per set, 381 digs, 68 aces, and 35 kills. Her 1,612 assists placed her first in the nation, and her 11.77 assists per set also placed her first in the nation. She led the region in assists and assists per set, fifth in total aces, fifth in aces per set, and eleventh in total digs. During the season, she also recorded 26 double-doubles. Her 1,612 assists placed her third All-Time at Cowley in assists in a season. Solis was named All-American by VolleyballMag.com, KJCCC Setter of the Week eight times, KJCCC First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Region, Triton Invitational All-Tournament, Cowley College Athlete of the Month, Triton Invitational Best Setter, and Cowley Invitational All-Tournament.
"Vivianna was a setter that came in with a great amount of talent and worked hard to get adjusted to the college game as the court leader of our program," Gream said. "She learned the offense, learned the league and was in the gym hungry to get better every day. She came in as a freshman willing to learn and really took off with her dedication to improving her skills in footwork, hand strength and speed, court awareness, strength training, and adding new sets at a faster tempo. Her hard work paid off, and she was one of the top setters in the nation, running one of the top offenses in the nation. It is so exciting to see her hard work be recognized by the NJCAA."
Beougher, the sophomore outside hitter from Benton, Kansas, finished the 2022 season with 509 kills at 3.64 kills per set, 136 digs, 52 aces, and a hitting percentage of .340. She finished tenth in the nation in total kills and eighteenth in hitting percentage. Beougher also finished first in the region in total kills, third in kills per set, third in hitting percentage, and ninth in service aces. Beougher was named First Team All-District, First Team All-Conference, Triton Invitational All-Tournament, Cowley College Athlete of the Month, and Cowley Invitational All-Tournament. Her 932 career kills placed her fourth All-Time in Cowley history.
"Laci was an outside hitter that came in with a great amount of talent and worked to be an offensive leader of our program since the start of her freshmen season," Gream said. "She didn't settle on her successful freshmen season, but it instead fueled her to enhance her volleyball skills and her physical training. Laci served as a leader on the court and was a determined player who brought power and consistency and also added back-row play in becoming an all-around player. She was already one of the top hitters in the nation, but these adjustments and additions made her one of the top players in the nation on one of the top offenses in the nation."
Five Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference athletes were selected All-American — Jadyn Troutman, Addyson Mock, and Lauren McClure from Johnson County were the others.