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No. 2 JCCC volleyball finishes 4-2 in season-opening tournament

The photo features a group of volleyball players posing outdoors on a grassy hill. They're all wearing matching yellow jerseys, blue shorts, and white socks. Some jersey numbers are visible, including 5, 10, 14, and 13. The players are standing on a low stone wall, with their arms either raised or around each other, creating a lively and unified team vibe.
The photo features a group of volleyball players posing outdoors on a grassy hill. They're all wearing matching yellow jerseys, blue shorts, and white socks. Some jersey numbers are visible, including 5, 10, 14, and 13. The players are standing on a low stone wall, with their arms either raised or around each other, creating a lively and unified team vibe.
Posted: Aug 25, 2025

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 2-ranked Johnson County Community College volleyball team opened the 2024 season with a strong showing, going 4-2 against a talented field of nationally ranked opponents at the season-opening tournament in Rockford, Ill.

The Cavaliers started Friday, Aug. 22, with a pair of wins—sweeping Waubonsee (25-18, 25-20, 25-21) and outlasting No. 12 Grand Rapids in five sets (25-22, 25-20, 24-26, 15-25, 15-11). On Saturday, JCCC battled but fell to two top-10 programs, dropping a 3-0 decision to No. 10 Pensacola State (20-25, 18-25, 19-25) and a 3-1 contest to No. 6 Gulf Coast State (20-25, 18-25, 25-20, 19-25). The Cavaliers bounced back on Sunday, sweeping Southeastern (25-20, 25-12, 25-18) and Danville Area (25-8, 25-12, 25-14) to close the weekend.

Freshman outside/right-side hitter Ava Essar made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut, finishing the weekend with 71 kills—an average of 3.38 per set—while hitting .273. She reached double figures in kills in four of six matches, highlighted by 16 in the win over Grand Rapids and 17 against No. 6 Gulf Coast. Essar also added 23 digs, eight blocks, and four aces. After the opening weekend, she leads the KJCCC and ranks fourth nationally in kills.

Freshman setter Campbell Chabot directed the Cavaliers' attack with confidence, handing out 210 assists (10.0 per set) to lead both the KJCCC and NJCAA Division II. She posted 20 or more assists in every match, including 46 against Gulf Coast and 44 versus Grand Rapids. Chabot also contributed 35 digs, 21 kills, 10 blocks, and five aces.

Defensively, sophomore libero Carlie Martin picked up where she left off from her stellar freshman campaign. A four-time KJCCC Defensive Player of the Week in 2023, Martin totaled 93 digs (4.43 per set), ranking first in the KJCCC and tied for third nationally. She recorded 18 digs in each of the first two matches, 21 against Gulf Coast, and reached double figures in all six contests.

JCCC also received strong contributions across the lineup. Sophomore middle/right-side hitter Alana Brewster tallied 56 kills, while fellow middle/right-side Avery Rinngenberg posted 45 kills, a team-high 16 blocks, and 14 aces. Freshman outside/right-side Lily Waters added 41 kills and served a team-best 15 aces—including seven in the final match, tying the fifth-most in program history. Freshman defensive specialists/liberos Reese Daugherty and Kennedie Witthaus chipped in 49 and 43 digs, respectively, to bolster the back row.

The Cavaliers return home ranked No. 2 nationally and with plenty of momentum as they set their sights on another championship-caliber season.