(KJCCC) February 17, 2021 – Strong performances by conference athletes are recognized in Week 4 of the KJCCC Athletes of the Week voting.
Division II Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week
Jayla Smith, the 6-foot sophomore forward from Detroit, led the Labette Lady Cardinals to three wins in four days, including recording a double-double vs Evangel JV.
Division II Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week
Kansas City Kansas guard Deron McDaniel had himself a week with 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals in the Blue Devils two games last week. He opened the week with a 16pt performance over Metropolitan in a win at home. Followed by a 21pt game performance with season and career high 9 rebounds in a 79-75 OT win vs Southeast Nebraska. McDaniel Is averaging 17.8ppg shooting 46% from 3pt land.
Division I Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week
Independence forward Miriam Fernandez came off the bench in both games and was a difference maker. She shot 61.5% from the field and 60% from the 3-point line including a huge 3 late in the game vs. #17 Hutchinson C.C. for the upset win. First win for Indy vs. Hutch since the 2006-07 season.
Division I Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week
Hutchinson Blue Dragon sophomore forward Matt Mayers had a big week that included career highs for points and rebounds, another double-double and a game-winning shot with 0.4 seconds to play against Independence. For the week, the sophomore from Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, averaged 22.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He made 20 of 25 shot attempts (80.0 percent) for the week. In Hutchinson's 79-77 win at Independence, Mayers scored a career-high 26 points on 13 of 15 shooting and scored the game winner, hitting a putback with 0.4 seconds to play for the game winner. Mayers then posted his third double-double of the season with 19 points, on 7 of 10 shooting, with a career-high 13 rebounds against the Red Devils.
Women's Track Athlete of the Week
Linesha Thompson – Soph., Butler – ran 7.47 in the 60m, which is the #3 time in the NJCAA - 57.28 -400m, #3 in the NJCAA at the Washburn JUCO Challenge
Women's Field Athlete of the Week
Marie Forbes – Soph., Cloud County. In the Weight Throw, he hit 18.68m which is 1st in Region VI and 2nd in the NJCAA. In the Shot Put, he threw 13.73m, which is 2nd in the Region and NJCAA (He won both events at the Washburn JUCO Challenge)
Men's Track Athlete of the Week
Vincent Nchogu – Fresh., NW Tech, ran 14:22.90 in the 5,000m, 1st in the NJCAA, at the Triton Kansas Invite.
Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Trey Dixon – Fresh. Fort Scott, won the Triton Kansas Invite in the Long Jump with 7.28m - 23'5. He is ranked #3 in the NJCAA.
Division I Volleyball Athletes of the Week
Offense: Mylena Testoni (Barton) - Mylena Testoni had a solid overall match last Monday's in Barton's lone contest helping Barton to a dominating sweep over Pratt Community College. Nearly posting a double-double with nine kills and nine digs, Testoni struck for a .462 attack including three service aces while defensively recording three blocks.
Defense: Jenna Thorne (Hutchinson) - Hutchinson Community College sophomore outside hitter Jenna Thorne had a big match, including a strong defensive effort in a sweep of Dodge City, Hutchinson's only match of last week. Thorne posted her eighth double-double of the season against the Conquistadors. Defensively, Thorne had 16 digs, four block assists and was a perfect 10 of 10 in service receptions. Offensively, Thorne had 14 kills with one error on 19 attacks for a career-high .694 hitting percentage.
Setter: Chloe Price (Hutchinson) - Hutchinson sophomore setter Chloe Price had 33 assists and connected for kills on 53.2 percent of her sets in Hutchinson's 3-0 sweep of Dodge City, the only Blue Dragon action of last week. Price accounted for 33 assists, 2 kills on 4 attacks, two digs and two total blocks, including one solo stuff. Price is currently third in the KJCCC in set assists per set at 8.85 and is second in the league in 0.5 service aces per set.
Division II Volleyball Athletes of the Week
KJCCC Division II Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week
Hannah Brisco - Neosho County Community College Freshman Rightside Hitter, Goddard, KS - Hannah Brisco's offense helped propel Neosho to win two more matches this week and remain undefeated in conference play. She had 31 kills in two matches and only eight hitting errors in eight sets.
KJCCC Division II Volleyball Setter of the Week
Gracie Story, Cowley College Freshman Setter, Holliday, Texas - Freshman Gracie Story recorded her fourth double-double in a three-set win against Hesston College. She currently ranks first in KJCCC Division II and fifth in the NJCAA in assists per set.
KJCCC Division II Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Kendra McDonald - Highland Community College Sophomore Middle Hitter, Spring Hill, KS - Kendra McDonald led the Scotties in total blocks with 13 for the week. She currently leads the KJCCC in blocks per set, averaging 1.32. McDonald is also tops in the KJCCC in solo blocks with 20. Along with 37 total blocks, she leads in blocks in the Jayhawk East. The 6'2 sophomore is currently third in the NJCAA for total blocks. McDonald also produced offensively in the undefeated week for the Scotties with 11 kills coming against Fort Scott and six in the three-set sweep of Cowley.
Division I Softball Athletes of the Week
There were no nominations this week.
Division II Softball Athletes of the Week
There were no nominations this week.
Baseball Athlete of the Week
There were no nominations this week.