OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - The Johnson County Community College volleyball program has been a staple in the National Junior College Athletic Association under the direction of head coach Jennifer Ei. She has guided her program to national tournament appearances in eight of the previous 12 seasons with runner-up finishes in 2008 and 2010, and third-place finishes in 2013 and 2018.

Therefore, it should be no surprise that the JCCC volleyball team will start the 2020-21 campaign as one of the top teams in the country. It would mark the 11th time in 13 years under Ei's direction that her program has opened a season ranked. If they are ranked in the top-10 it would be the ninth time appearing in the top-10 in the preseason.

Last season, the Lady Cavaliers posted a 25-10 record and ended the season ranked 10^th nationally. Ei returns six players from that squad, and one from the 2018 team that place third in the nation.

"Collectively these sophomores work hard both on the court and in the classroom," Ei said. "They worked so hard this past spring before COVID hit, but they continued to workout via zoom together. They have great chemistry, work ethic and excellent leadership. They established good fundamentals that will contribute to our team's success this spring. All of these players continue to learn and improve their game while pushing their teammates. They are exciting to watch, have positive attitudes and great personalities."

Headlining this group are 5-11 right-side hitter Mikayla Powell (Raymore-Peculiar HS/Raymore, Mo.), 5-9 middle hitter Gracie LaForge (Grain Valley HS/Grain Valley Mo.) and 6-1 middle hitter Taylor Hervey (Bonner Springs HS/Kansas City, Kan.).

Powell was a first-team All-Kansas Jayhawk D-II Conference and All-District A selection last year after leading the team with 348 kills. She averaged 3.38 kills per set and hit a team-best .306, which ranked 13^th in the conference. Powell topped double figures in kills in 22 matches. She also tallied 77 blocks and 70 digs. 

"Mikayla has a passion for the game and possesses a will to win," said Ei. "She is very competitive, composed under pressure and loves big matches. She made a huge impact last year and we expect her to do more as a sophomore." 

LaForge earned second-team All-KJCCC last year after finishing the year with 248 kills and a 2.03 kills-per-set average, third-best on the team. She also recorded 83 digs, 70 blocks, 14 assists and 13 aces. 

"Gracie is a very versatile and powerful middle hitter," Ei said. "She is athletics, explosive off the floor and highly competitive. She gained strength and quickness is the off season. She also has tremendous leadership, work ethic, high volleyball IQ and always looks to score a point." 

Hervey finished her freshman season with 170 kills, a kills-per-set average of 1.40 and an attack percentage of .194. She also led the team and conference with 123 block assists and 141 total blocks. Her 1.17 blocks-per-set average ranked fourth in the KJCCC. Those numbers earned her second-team All-District A accolades. 
"Taylor has improved her skill set, strength and IQ for the game," said Ei. "She is a beast at the net as a blocker. She has worked equally hard as an attacker which is going to surprise some teams this year at the net. We expect her to have a huge impact this year." 

The other returnees are 5-4 setter Kallie Fenscke (Broken Arrow HS/Broken Arrow, Okla.), 5-8 libero Makenzie Griffel (Blue Springs HS/Blue Springs, Mo.), 5-9 outside/right side hitter Shannon Riley (Collinsville HS/Collinsville, Ill.) and 5-9 outside hitter Brooke Wroten (Lawrence HS/Lawrence, Kan.). 

Fenscke led the team with 670 assists and an assist-per-set average of 5.88. She also tallied 114 digs and 17 kills. She ranked 17^th in the conference in total assists and assists average. She reached double figures assists in 33 matches. 

"Kallie is small in height but is a fierce competitor," EI said. "She gained key playing experience in key matches last year and continues to improve her game. She is quicker, stronger and has gained more knowledge as a setter heading into her sophomore season." 

Griffel finished third on the team with 284 digs and 2.34 digs-per-set average. She also finished second with 45 service aces, which tied for 12^th in the conference. She topped double digits in digs nine times, including 17 in a win at Palm Beach State Oct. 12. 

"Mackenzie has been selected as one of the team's captains, and looks to be a strong leader," Ei said. "She brings excellent ball control, has good court sense and brings confidence in her all-around game to court." 

Riley was a member of the 2018 team that placed third at nationals. That season, she finished fourth on the team with 271 kills and a kills-per-set average of 2.08. She also had 88 digs, 35 blocks and six assists. She reached double figures kills in. 11 matches. 

"Shannon was a huge part of the success of that 2018 team," Ei said. "She is a powerful hitter that has gained strength and control in her blocking and attacking. She has a lot of maturity and experience in tough matches which will help lead this team to success." 

Wroten finished fourth on the team last year with 221 kills and kills-per-set average of 1.86. She reached double digits kills in three matches and also contributed 100 digs and 47 blocks. 

"Brooke is a dynamic player with a high volleyball IQ," said Ei. "She is extremely athletics and versatile as a hitter and blocker. She played both outside and right-side hitter last year. She brings a ton of positivity and is an amazing teammate. She is a player you want on the court at all times." 

Ei has added seven newcomers to his veteran group of which three, 5-10 outside hitter Sydney Healy (Staley HS/Kansas City, Mo.), 6-0 middle/outside hitter Lexi Lueger (Nemaha Central HS/Seneca, Kan.) and 5-7 setter/defensive specialist Ryleigh McBurney (Blue Springs South HS/Blue Springs, Mo.) look to be key contributors when the Lady Cavaliers open the season at Neosho County Community College on January 25^th. 

Healy, who originally signed with Central Methodist University, was a three-year starter at Staley, and would have started her senior year, but an injury cause her to miss the season. She was a two-time Missouri High School Volleyball Association All-District performer and a three-time All-Kansas City Suburban Red Conference first-team selection. She tallied 503 career kills and led all of Missouri Class 4, District 16 with 43 aces her junior year. 

"Sydney is a smart, athletic and strong attacker," said Ei. "She will be someone to watch this season as she brings power, a solid block, competitiveness and a high volleyball IQ. It will be exciting to see the success she will bring to the team." 

A two-year starter at Nemaha Central, Lueger earned Kansas Volleyball Association honorable mention All-State as a senior. She also was a first-team All-Big 7 selection. She tallied 148 kills, 81 blocks, 235 digs and 36 aces as a junior, and followed her senior year with 202 kills, 67 blocks, 404 digs and 21 aces. The Thunder reached the Kansas 3A State Tournament both of those seasons. 

"Lexi is listed a middle but she can swing from every position," Ei said. "She possesses lengthy, long limbs and will be a huge contributor at the net this season. She bring energy and excitement to the front row and will be fun to watch." 

McBurney comes in after a monster senior season at Blue Springs South. She earned honorable mention all-conference and second-team All-District after registering 205 aces and 220 digs. Her efforts helped the Jaguars reach the Missouri Class 4 District 14 Championship. Her junior year she helped Blue Springs South to a 28-6 mark while capturing conference, District and Sectional titles. 

"Ryleigh is very good a delivering a consistent ball to the hitters, and she likes to run a fast offense," said Ei.  "She is athletics, quick to the ball and always looking to set her hitters to win the point. She will be a leader on the court this year." 

Rounding out the roster are 5-10 outside/right-side hitter Taryn Rich (Arkansas City HS/Arkansas City, Kan.), 5-4 setter/defensive specialist Jessica Slater (Grain Valley HS/Grain Valley, Mo.), 5-8 outside/right-side hitter Alyssa Smith (Broken Arrow HS/Broken Arrow, Okla.) and 5-5 defensive specialist/libero Maddie Steiner (Seaman HS/Topeka, Kan.). 

Rich was a two-time Ark Valley Chisholm Trail selection, earning honorable mention as a junior and second-team as a senior. She had a big senior year, registering 335 kills and 251 digs. She posted 168 kills and 160 digs her junior season. She closed out her three varsity seasons with 574 kills, 454 digs, 151 blocks and 73 aces.  

Slater was a three-year starter and four-time letter winner at Grain Valley. She was a three-time All-Suburban Conference selection, earning honorable mention as a sophomore, first-team her junior and senior years. She also was a two-time second-team All-District performer. She tallied 281 assists and 40 aces as a junior and 329 assists and 55 aces her senior campaign. 

Smith was four-year starter as Broken Arrow while helping the Tigers to regional titles in 2018 and 2019, and a runner-up finish at the Oklahoma 6A State Tournament her senior year. She earned first-team All-Frontier Conference her senior season after producing 214 kills, 233 blocks, 75 aces and a 92 percent serving percentage. Her junior year she had 318 digs, and 67 aces with a serving percentage of 93 percent. Her 75 aces and 93 percent serving percentage are season program records. 

Steiner helped Seaman to a 29-11 record and a and a shared Centennial League championship as a senior, earning first-team All-City and All-Centennial League honors. She was credited with 575 digs and 26 aces her senior season, and was a finalist for the Topeka Capital Journal Fall Sports Outstanding Female Athlete . As a junior, she helped lead Seaman to a 30-11 mark while earning second-team All-City and All-Centennial League accolades. She also earned honorable mention all-city and all-league as a sophomore. Steiner tallied 1,405 digs and 72 aces over her three varsity seasons.