Over its final regular season hurdle, Kansas City Kansas Community College immediately turned its attention towards Saturday’s District N volleyball championship and a possible return to the NJCAA national tournament.
“This was a good tune-up for the playoffs, a good team win,” said KCKCC Coach Mary Bruno after a straight set 25-18, 25-23, 25-14 win over Longview Tuesday night.
The win boosted the Blue Devils’ record to 27-9 heading into a first round district home game against Labette (11-17) Saturday at noon. Fort Scott (30-8) will face Hesston (26-7) at 2 p.m. with the two winners colliding for the right to play in the national tourney in Phoenix, Ariz.
The win over Labette did not come without a scare, however, as sophomore middle blocker Kailee Dudley suffered an ankle injury in the first set and was on crutches at game’s end. “We think she’ll be okay Saturday; we’re hoping so,” said Bruno. A transfer from Butler, Dudley was the Jayhawk Freshman of the Year and a first team All-District as a freshman.
“We had two freshmen, Allyssa Lutgen and Cecelia Augustine, really step up and play well,” said Bruno. Lutgen is a Lansing graduate; Augustine is from Ypsilanti, Mich.
