Three Lady Tiger volleyball players named NJCAA All-Americans
The Cowley College volleyball team saw three players recognized by the NJCAA as All-Americans. Sophomore Rossana Papa and freshman Laura Bonomi were selected as first-team All-Americans, and sophomore Anna Kiss was selected as a second-team All-American. The selections brought Cowley's total All-American award count to 45 honors spread across 33 players. It marks the 20th straight season with an All-American selection for the program.
"We are very proud of Rossana, Laura, and Anna for being honored with All-American awards." Cowley head 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. They put in the work all season to improve each day, and all three 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 to a total 'Team First' attitude where each player worked for and played for each other."
Papa, the sophomore setter from Brescia, Italy, was the NJCAA National Tournament Most Valuable Player of the Tournament and Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division Most Valuable Player. She finished the 2023 season with 1,536 assists at 12.09 assists per set, a .323 hitting %, 85 service aces, 297 digs at 2.34 digs per set, and 48 blocks.
Her 1,536 assists placed her first in the nation, her 12.09 assists per set also placed her first in the nation, and she was ranked 12th in total service aces at 85. She led the region in assists, assists per set, service aces, and service aces per set. Papa became only the second player in Cowley history to reach the 3,000 career assists mark at 3,075 and broke the Cowley volleyball record for service aces in a career with 180.
Her 1,539 assists in 2021 placed her fourth in Cowley history in assists in a season, and her 1,536 assists in 2023 placed her fifth. Her 11.96 assists per set places her second on the career list in Cowley history. Her 95 aces in 2021 placed her third most in a season, and her 85 aces in 2023 placed her eighth in Cowley history. Papa was named All-American by Volleyballmag.com, a 12-time KJCCC Setter of the Week, named NJCAA Great Plains District A First Team All-District and KJCCC First Team All-Conference, and was named to the Cowley Invitational All-Tournament Team.
"Rossana was a decorated setter that came back to our program after sitting out last season due to injury," Gream said. "She came back from her injury last spring and was determined to not only chip off the rust of being off, but also to enhance her skills for another run at a national championship. Rossana served as a great leader on the court and was a determined player who brought great skill, and a high volleyball IQ to see things before they happened, and she was like a third coach on the floor. She was already one of the top setters in the nation but her adjustments and additions made her one of the top players in the nation on one of the top offenses in the nation."
Bonomi, a native of Ceto, Italy, finished the 2023 season with 495 kills at 3.87 kills per set, 400 digs at 3.13 digs per set, 62 aces, and a hitting percentage of .393. She finished fourth in the nation in hitting percentage, 11th in total kills, 13th in kills per set, and 13th in total points (563.5). In the region, she was first in hitting percentage, second in total kills, third in total service aces, fourth in kills per set, eighth in service aces per set, and 10th in total digs. Her .393 hitting percentage places her ninth in Cowley history in hitting percentage in a season, and her 495 kills rank her 10th in Cowley history in kills in a season.
Bonomi was named Volleyballmag.com Player of the Year, named All-American by Volleyballmag.com, KJCCC Freshman of the Year, First team All-District, First team All-Conference, KJCCC Offensive Player of the Week four times, named to the Cowley Invitational All-Tournament team, and was named to the NJCAA National Tournament All-Tournament.
"Laura was an outside hitter that came in with a great amount of talent and adjusted very quickly to our offense and style of play," Gream said. "She has a great amount of confidence that translated to her fearlessness on the court as both a hitter and a back row defender. She hates to lose and brought that mentality to our team and play on the court. Her all-around skills provided a great balance to our offense and anchored our defense and serve receive. On offense, her powerful and consistent arm swing allowed her to keep defenses honest while her 'libero-like' defensive skills allowed her to shut down opponents and provide a solid pass to our setters."
Kiss, the sophomore outside hitter from Szekesfehervar, Hungary, finished the 2023 season with 552 kills at 4.31 kills per set, 119 digs, 82 aces, and a hitting percentage of .368. She finished fourth in the nation in kills per set, fourth in points per set (5.0), fifth in total kills, fifth in total points (643.5), and 14th in total aces.
In the region, she was first in total kills, first in kills per set, second in total aces, second in aces per set, and third in hitting percentage. Kiss ranks fourth in Cowley history in total career kills with 1,000 (only the fourth player to ever reach the 1,000-kill mark). Her 3.80 kills per set for her career ranks her fourth all-time. Kiss' 151 service aces rank her fifth all-time in aces in a career. Her 552 kills in 2023 ranks her fifth all-time in kills in a season.
She was named All-American by Volleyballmag.com, First team All-District, First team All-Conference, NJCAA Offensive Player of the Week, KJCCC Offensive Player of the Week four times, named to the Cowley Invitational All-Tournament team, and was named to the NJCAA National Tournament All-Tournament team.
"Anna had a great freshman season but wanted to enhance her skills further last spring to prepare for her sophomore season. That hard work paid off with her being more confident with her attack on the floor, her court vision, and enhanced volleyball IQ" Gream said. "She brought to our program this year solid all-around skills which provided great balance to our offense in addition to her powerful and consistent arm swing, which allowed her to keep defenses honest plus, she added one of the top serves in the nation. She ended her career as the fourth-best hitter in Cowley history with her 1,000 kills and a top-five server in Cowley history."
Five Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference athletes were selected All-Americans — Sarina Ulberg from Johnson County and Sydnee Dudolski from Neosho County were the others.