OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -  The No. 5-ranked Johnson County Community College volleyball team downed Coffeyville Community College 3-0 in the first round of the NJCAA D-II District B Playoffs, advancing to the championship this weekend on the campus of Friends University in Wichita.

The Cavaliers (31-3) will face Neosho County Community College (23-9) at 12:30 p.m. Cowley College will take on Allen Community College in the championship of the District A Tournament. The winners will advance to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament November 15-18 at Alliant Energy Powerhouse Arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Johnson County defeated Neosho County 3-1 on October 25 at JCCC Gymnasium.  JCCC leads the all-time series against the Panthers 72-to-11.

In Wednesday night's opening round triumph, JCCC opened with 25-16 set victory and followed with wins of 25-8 and 25-22. 

Freshman outside hitter Tori Valentine and sophomore outside/right hitter Sarina Ulberg led JCCC hitters with each tallying nine kills. Both also put up impressive kill percentage at .421 and .389 respectively. 

Sophomore outside/right side hitter Sophia Ewy produced her second-best attack percentage of the season at .615 and contributed eight kills with no errors. 

Freshman right side hitter Kennedy Smalley, freshman middle/outside hitter Bella Hedke and sophomore outside/right side hitter Isabella Flaska each finished with seven kills. As a team JCCC posted 48 kills and hit at .415 clip.

In the back, sophomore Emily Silvers led the team with 13 digs.  Smalley followed with nine and freshman Lillie Sullivan collected eight.

Sophomore setter Sydney Fiatte and freshman setter Wren VanCleave each finished in double figures for assist in the match. Fiatte led the way with 21, followed by VanCleave with 16. Both also were credited with five digs.