|
Owens Community College’s volleyball program came one step from being crowned national champions after winning its respective regional (District D) tournament.
As a result of their postseason success, the Express women’s volleyball team advanced to the NJCAA Division II National Championships, Nov. 18-20, in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
Owens, currently ranked 11th in the NJCAA national poll, lost to Illinois Central, defending national champs and ranked 7th, 23-25, 25-21, 25-18, 18-25, 15-11. The team then defeated Hagerstown, Md., 25-15, 26-24, 23-25, 25-14 and lost their final match to North Platte, Ne, 25-22, 19-25, 25-14, 23-25, 15-10, to finish 11th in the nation. Owens finishes the season with a 42-9 record.
This marked Owens’ second trip to the NJCAA Division II national championship tournament. Additionally, the Express participated in five Division III national championship tournaments and finished third in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
“We knew coming into this year we had a good recruiting class and the team as a collective group worked hard throughout the year to get to this point,” said Owens Express Head Coach Sonny Lewis. “This has been a goal, making it to nationals. A lot of our matches were close and the team did what they needed to do to win matches.”
 |
| Alyssa LaVoy |
 |
| Lauren Lind |
Owens closed the regular season by defeating OCCAC opponent Columbus State 25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 25-16 and Cuyahoga 25-11, 25-5, 25-8.
On the Owens team are Lauren Lind (Lake) and Alyssa LaVoy (Eastwood), On the season, Lind had 68 sets, 102 kills, 13 assists, one ace, 26 digs, 31 blocks and 121 points. LaVoy had 27 sets, two aces, 25 digs, and two points. At the national tournament, Lind had a set, a kill, and a point, while LaVoy had two sets and two digs.
Owens has won 10 out of the last 11 OCCAC regular season championships. Lewis’ squad finished 11-1 in the OCCAC regular season standings and is ranked No. 11 in the latest NJCAA Division II volleyball regular season poll.
The Express earned their trip to the nationals by winning in the NJCAA Region XII Championships in Grand Rapids, Mich. Owens defeated Oakland (23-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-17) in the championship match to advance to the national tournament.
Heading into the national tourney, Owens had not lost since Sept. 25 when fellow national tournament qualifier Kirkwood defeated the Express in four games at the Parkland Invitational.
Additionally this year, the Express women’s volleyball team captured the OCCAC regular season championship with a victory over Cuyahoga Community College (25-11, 25-5, 25-8) on Oct. 30. Owens has won 10 out of the last 11 OCCAC regular season championships. Lewis’ squad finished 11-1 in the OCCAC regular season standings and is ranked No. 11 in the final NJCAA Division II volleyball regular season poll. The Express also is currently on a 26-match winning streak.
Owens’ will play Illinois Central in the first match of the double elimination consolation national tournament at 11 a.m. on Nov. 18. If they would advance, the Express will play the winner of the Johnson County /Hagerstown at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. The championship match will occur at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 20.
The 16 teams competing in the national tournament also include Iowa Lakes (37-7), Johnson County (27-5), Cowley County (31-3), East Central (36-7), Parkland (39-10), Kishwaukee (40-10), Illinois Central (31-8), Grand Rapids (35-2), Pasco-Hernando (32-7), North Platte (31-9), Glendale (22-14), Kirkwood (30-11), Moraine Valley (34-6), Hagerstown (26-7) and Genesee (38-8).
Other Express team members include Shelby Schuster (Sylvania Southview), Jessica Knueve (Kalida), Alyssa Wielfaert (Start), Amanda Schuster (Southview), Erin Schatzle (Monroe, Mich.), Alyssa Pelish (Central Catholic), Ellie Comes (Sylvania Southview), Ashley Horak (Bowling Green), Julia Haupricht (Central Catholic), Allie McAfee (Milan, Mich.), Allison Seifker (Monroeville) and Brittany Egbert (Hopewell-Loudon).
The OCCAC conference awards were announced and Brittany Egbert was selected Player of the Year, 1st team selections were Ellie Comes, Erin Schatzle and Allison Seifker, Ashley Horak was an honorable mention selection.
NJCAA All-Region XII selections were Brittany Egbert and Ellie Comes who were also selected as All-American nominees from the region.
At the Region XII national qualifier, Brittany Egbert was selected MVP and Ellie Comes and Erin Schatzle were selected All-tournament.
 |
Sports 
Subscribe to this comment's feed