Charleston, W.V. – The 2018 season came to an end Saturday, November 17th but despite not winning the national title, this was one of the most remarkable seasons in Raider volleyball history. The Raiders finished 6th in the country, which ties them for their second best finish ever. GRCC also finished 6th back in 2013, which was one year after their unforgettable 2012 National Championship season.
After winning their ninth Regional Championship just two weeks earlier, the Raiders arrived to Charleston as the 7 seed with a match up with Catawba Valley Community College (the 10 seed) in the opening round. It would be the fifth time in the past six seasons that both teams would play each othe,r with the Raiders winning all but one of them.
Catawba Valley played the Raiders close, but they were no match for GRCC's outside hitters, Kendra DeJonge (Rockford, MI) and Dani Johnston (Comstock Park, MI). The duo, who totaled 31 kills in all, helped their team to a 25-21, 25-21, 25-23 sweep over Catawba. In the second set alone, DeJonge and Johnston had 15 kills with no errors. Kelsie Schultz (Fruitport, MI) had a match high 15 digs and Autumn Severn (New Lothrup, MI) had 35 assists and 10 digs. DeJonge and Freshman DS, Mykayla Vallad (Rockford, MI), each had two aces.
In round two on Thursday night, the Raiders faced the #2 ranked Parkland College Cobras, whom had already beat the Raiders twice during the regular season. The Raiders played them tough and even had a 7 point advantage in set two but the Cobras were just too much. GRCC hit just .137 with Emma Pachulski (Belding, MI) having a team high nine kills and two blocks. Kayla Salyer (Coopersville, MI) hit .667 going 6 for 9 while adding a block of her own. Final score: 14-25, 18-25, 19-25.
With the national title out of reach, the Raiders still had a chance to finish as high as fifth place. Their next task would be to try and get revenge on Lincoln Land CC who beat the Raiders in five sets earlier in the season. In that match, the Raiders we're up 2-0, only to fall 15-13 in the fifth set.
Lincoln Land and the Raiders weren't separated by more than two points the entire first set, but unfortunately a questionable kill and an attack error ended the set in favor of the Loggers, 23-25. The next three sets the Raiders were unstoppable. The 11th ranked Raiders cruised to a four set win, taking the final three sets, 25-14, 25-12 then 25-16. DeJonge totaled 14 kills, Salyer 9, and Johnston 7. Freshman DS, Katelynn Kietzman (Alto, MI) had 17 digs while Ally German (Fruitport, MI) had a match high 6 blocks.
Saturday afternoon, the Raiders faced South Mountain CC, a tough Arizona team they haven't played since 2013. South Mountain came into the tournament a 4 seed and with multiple All-American candidates on the offensive site and a very solid defense behind them. Their scrappy defense and superb serving/receiving was the difference in the end, as they out lasted the Raiders in three sets, 25-23, 25-22, 25-19. With the loss, the Raiders' fantastic season came to an end with a 31-8 record and a 6th place finish.
Against South Mountain, DeJonge had a team high 11 kills and 22 digs, and because of her excellent play during nationals, she was named to the All-Tournament Team. It was the first time since 2012 that the Raiders had a player receive such an honor. Within the next couple weeks, the NJCAA Athletic All-Americans will be announced, so stay tuned to see if Kendra DeJonge will achieve this honor for the second straight year.
Final Tournament Statistical Leaders:
-Kills (161): DeJonge 47, Johnston 36, Salyer 27, Pachulski 12, Lauren Jonker (Grand Haven, MI) 11
-Assists (147): Severn 115, Jamie Wellet 17, Schultz 5
-Aces (21): DeJonge 5, Vallad 4, Jasmine Wellet (Coldwater, MI) 4, Kietzman 3
-Digs (239): Schultz 54, DeJonge 49, Severn 32, Kietzman 28, Jamie Wellet (Coldwater, MI) 18
-Blocks (22): German 11, Salyer 8, Jonker 6, Johnston 5
For pictures all throughout the season, visit our Flickr site.
Click here for the Final National Tournament Bracket.
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