Lady Tiger volleyball team picked to repeat as conference champs

Defending national champion Cowley College has been picked to win the 2024 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Division II Volleyball preseason order of finish, as voted on by the 11 league coaches on Tuesday, August 13.

Earning 120 points and 10 out of 11 first-place votes, the Tigers are coming off an unbeaten 41-0 season last year to achieve their first unbeaten season in program history while winning their first National Title since 2013 and third in program history. Cowley has finished no worse than sixth in each of the past three NJCAA Division II National Volleyball Tournaments and returns nine players from last year's squad, including NJCAA Division II First-Team All-American Laura Bonomi along with First-Team All-KJCCC Division II player Sara Puskas and Second-Team all-conference selection Valarie Luna.

"This selection reflects what our program has done over the past few seasons, especially last season." Cowley head coach Steven Gream said. "We return nine players who had great experience from our championship run last season, as well as solid freshmen and a transfer to add to them. Like all preseason polls, we can appreciate this a lot more when the season is over. We have strong teams in our conference, and others have improved their teams from 2023. We anticipate another competitive season in the KJCCC."

The remaining first-place vote went to Johnson County Community College, which earned 111 total points to be picked second after going 37-4 last season and earning a third-place finish at the 2023 NJCAA Division 2 Volleyball National Tournament. Returning seven players from last year's team, the Cavaliers will have three returning All-KJCCC selections, Kennedy Smalley, Chloe Carlgren, and Bella Hedke, to help lead the way.

Rounding out the top three in the poll is Kansas City Kansas Community College, which earned 93 total points in the poll while being picked among all 11 league coaches to finish no worse than fifth after going 20-11 last season, along with a 7-3 mark in the KJCCC to finish fourth. Just behind KCKCC is Neosho after earning 89 total points as the Panthers are coming off a 23-10 overall record and appearance in the NJCAA Division II Plains B District Tournament Title game while posting an 8-2 mark in conference play.

The rest of the preseason order of finish saw Allen picked fifth with 79 points, followed by Highland (54 points), Fort Scott (46 points), Coffeyville (45 points), Independence (41 points), Labette (35 points), and Hesston College (13 points).

Cowley will open its season by hosting a tri-match against Rose State College and Pratt Community College on Friday, August 23. Matches are slated to begin at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.