COLBY, Kan. – Combining for seven wins in eight matches at the 2024 NJCAA Opening Weekend Tournament in Rockford, Illinois, Kansas City Kansas’s Mercedez Brown and Alejandra Aponte along with Johnson County’s Taylin Stallbaumer have earned this week’s Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Division 2 Volleyball Player of the Week honors.
Offensive Player of the Week (Mercedez Brown - KCKCC) - Brown was the full package this past weekend for the Blue Devils, helping KCKCC go 3-1 to open the season which included a three-set sweep over number 21 ranked Madison College. Averaging over three kills per set and finishing the four-match weekend with only nine hitting errors, Brown hit .283 for the weekend. Mercedez was also a force on defense by tallying 3.79 digs per set as her stellar, well-rounded play helped the Blue Devils knock go 3-1 with their lone loss coming to number nine ranked Kirkwood Community College.
Setter of the Week (Taylin Stallbaumer – Johnson County) – Johnson County freshman setter Taylin Stallbaumer had a solid start to her collegiate career as the number three ranked Cavaliers went 4-0 to open their season with two wins over top-15 ranked teams. In their four victories over the weekend, Stallbaumer recorded 108 assists, with a match-high 31 in a win over number six nationally ranked Illinois Central. She also had 25 total digs, seven aces, and five blocks throughout the weekend.
Defensive Player of the Week (Alejandra Aponte - KCKCC) - Alejandra had a big impact this past weekend defensively for the Blue Devils at the NJCAA Opening Weekend Tournament in Rockford, Illinois by averaging 4.21 digs per set and nine service aces. Her efforts helped KCKCC go 3-1 and knock off number 21-ranked Madison College in straight sets. The lone loss for the Blue Devils came in a four-set defeat to a very strong number nine-ranked Kirkwood CC.
Other Offensive Players Nominated:
Laura Bonomi – Cowley
Joanna Gomez – Hesston
Sydney Johnson – Fort Scott
Tori Valentine – Johnson County
Other Setters Nominated:
Hanna Darvas – Cowley
Audrey Garrison – Hesston
Briazia Osborne – KCKCC
Other Defensive Players Nominated:
Dayanara Castillo – Labette
Carlie Martin – Johnson County
Jessi Ritchhart – Cowley
Aubrey Rodina – Fort Scott