OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – In a battle of NJCAA Division II volleyball powers Wednesday night at JCCC Gymnasium, No. 5-ranked Johnson County went toe-to-toe with defending national champion and top-ranked Cowley College before falling 3-0 (24-26, 23-25, 17-25). The match was a rematch of last year's national championship final.

Cowley has now won four straight against the Cavaliers and six of the last seven meetings, though JCCC still holds a 63-37-2 advantage in the all-time series.

Sophomore middle/right-side hitter Avery Ringgenberg turned in one of the best performances of her career, leading JCCC with 11 kills while hitting an impressive .647 and adding two blocks. Freshman Adalyn Hemphil tallied a season-high eight kills, and freshman Eva Esser contributed seven kills and five blocks.

Freshman setter Campbell Chabot directed the offense with 25 assists, while sophomore libero Carlie Martin (14 digs) and sophomore outside hitter Brooke Boyer (10 digs) anchored the defense. Freshman Alana Brewster added a team-high six blocks at the net.

The Cavaliers return to action Friday at 6 p.m. against Central Community College, then close the weekend with Saturday morning home matches against Lincoln Land (9 a.m.) and Northeast (11 a.m.).