OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The defending NJCAA D-II National Champion and current No. 1-ranked Johnson County Community College volleyball team got off to an impressive start to its 2021 season, winning all four matches over the weekend in Rockford, Ill.  The Lady Cavaliers won 12 of the 15 sets played and three of their victories were against teams ranked in the NJCAA D-II Preseason Poll. 

On Friday, JCCC opened with a 3-0 sweep (25-18, 25-14, 25-22) over Harper College, followed by a 3-2 comeback win (25-17, 23-25, 20-25, 25-22, 16-14) over No. 4-ranked Illinois Central College. 

Saturday's action started with a 3-1 win (25-15, 20-25, 25-20, 25-21) over No. 11 Grand Rapids Community College and it ended with a 3-0 win (25-17, 25-19, 25-18) over No. 7 McHenry County College. 

Outside hitter Kylie Gregory and middle hitter Sydney Sample led the team in total kills over the weekend. Gregory had a team-best 32 kills, while Sample was one back with 31. She also hit a team-best .338 and had 15 blocks. 

Next in line were middle hitter Carley Spachman with 27 kills, outside hitter Jadyn Troutman and middle/outside hitter Dejah Miller each with 24, and outside hitters Alyssa Smith and Lexi Lueger each with 21 kills. Spachman led the team with 18 blocks. Troutman tallied 14 blocks and Smith was credited with 20 digs. 

Libero Maddie Steiner led JCCC with 70 digs, an average of 4.67 per set. She set a new career high with 38 digs in the win over Illinois Central. Her previous high was 23 last season.  Addyson Mock was second with 23. 

Setters Lauren McClure and Ryleigh McBurney were impressive running the offense, finishing with 61 and 53 assists respectively.  McClure also had a team high six aces and tallied 19 digs. 

Johnson County will return the court on Wednesday, August 25, when they open conference play at home against Cowley, who received votes in the preseason poll. The match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.