By ALAN HOSKINS
Ranked No. 15 in the nation in NJCAA Division II, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s streaking women’s volleyball team made it seven in a row Wednesday.
Playing at home for the first time this season, the Blue Devils knocked off No. 16 ranked Fort Scott 3-1 before a large and vocal crowd. After taking the first set 25-20, the Lady Blue Devils dropped a 25-21 decision before finishing with 25-18 and 25-20 wins.
The win boosted KCKCC’s record to 10-1 with the only loss coming in five sets at the hands of No. 7 ranked Parkland in the season-opening Southeastern Iowa Classic.
The 10-1 record has the Lady Blue Devils tied for second in the Jayhawk East behind No. 1 ranked and defending national champion Cowley County (12-0).
KCKCC’s seven-match winning streak comes on the heels of a sweep of four matches in the Highland Tournament the past weekend in which the Blue Devils lost only one set, defeating Cloud 3-1 and Southwestern Iowa, Rend Lake and Longview all by 3-0 margins.
Going into Wednesday’s home opener, four Blue Devils ranked in the Top 50 in blocks, Kenya Alexander, a 6-4 freshman from Wyandotte, was ranked No. 3 with sophomores Tara Van Beek 11th, Chelsea Sheldon-Medina 23rd and Lisa Angello 50th.
In addition, Angello was 14th nationally in kills with 3.28 per game; Sheldon-Medina (.317) and Van Beek (.313) 28th and 29th in hitting percentage; and the team 18th in digs with 4566.
The Lady Blue Devils are right back on the road this weekend in the Pasco Hernando Community College Tournament in New Port Richey, Fla., where they’ll play four matches.
They’re also at Ottawa JV Sept. 22, Allen County Sept. 26 and Southeast Nebraska Sept. 28 before returning home for only the second time against Wentworth and Avila JV’s in a triangular Saturday afternoon, Sept. 29.
Next Jayhawk Conference home contest comes Wednesday, Oct. 3, against No. 8 ranked Johnson County (10-2).
