Passing the torch is how head coach Jessica Peters phrases it.
“We had a great outside hitter in Nicole Rockhold the past two years and now Alli Jenicke. And we have a freshman, Hayley Mertens, we hope is next in line,” Peters said. “It’s like passing the torch.”
Peters, who is in her fifth season as Allen County Community College volleyball head coach, pointed to her team’s outside hitting and blocking skills as strengths.
“That makes our play at the net a big strength going into the season. Plus we have a good opportunity to reach a team goal of being known for our defense also with what we’ve seen in practices,” Peters said.
Jenicke, a 5-9 sophomore outside hitter, was Allen County’s second-leading hitter last year. She downed 305 kills. She was tied for second in blocks at the net with 50.
Jenicke is one of three sophomores back from last year’s 16-20 Red Devil squad. Also returning are 5-7 right side/outside hitter Makhala Giardina and 5-7 libero/defensive specialist Nicole Reed.
The Red Devils open the 2011 season next weekend at the Fort Scott Community College tournament.
Then, the Red Devils are home on Aug. 29 against Longview. Allen County has just seven home matches plus its own tournament, which is Sept. 24, this season.
Allen County has eight freshmen to fill out its roster. The Red Devils were 3-7 in Jayhawk Eastern Division play and 4-7 in Region VI Division II action.
“We ended up seventh in the region and we’re looking to improve on that. We made the playoffs the past three years but we’d like to move up in the top half of the standings and get a better seed in the region tournament,” Peters said.
“We’re young but so are most of the teams in the conference. Most of us have large freshman classes.”
Peters said she is depending on her three sophomores for leadership. She said Jenicke, Giardina and Reed have stepped into those roles well since preseason practices began.
Giardina gives Allen County even more pop at the net. Peters said Giardina was signed as an outside hitter but last year was versatile enough to move to a right-side hitting position for ACCC.
Giardina hammered down 122 kills, which was fourth best on the team. She had 23 blocks at the net.
ll as our go-to outside hitter. She can really put away balls and is a great leader for the team. Makhala is very effective from the right side. She knows that position this year and is swinging hard for us,” Peters said.
Being known for defense is a team goal. Allen County’s defensive strength is anchored by Reed. Reed is the ACCC starting libero — a back row defensive player who also may serve. Reed had 392 digs a year ago for the Red Devils and served 26 aces.
The Red Devils also bring back two good defensive hitters. Jenicke had 373 digs and served 16 aces. Girardina came up with 96 digs plus had 29 set assists.
“As good as Nicole played for us last year, she is better right now. She worked hard in spring training and put her defensive play on a higher level coming into this season. She is my defensive specialist,” Peters said.
“She works hard in keeping balls playable for us.”
Freshmen on the team are 5-5 Alisha Keith of Owasso, Okla.; 5-2 Sabrina Stanley of Raytown, Mo.; 5-4 Jacqui Ortiz of Canutillo, Texas; 5-10 Hayley Mertens, Kingman; 6-1 Jordyne Seichepine of Nortonville; 5-11 Randi Billings of Silver Lake; 5-11 Autumn Douglas of Toronto; and 5-10 Kaitlyn Speer of Valley Falls.
“This was a solid recruiting class for us. These young players have come in with the biggest heart and drive as a group as we’ve had here with me as head coach,” Peters said. “We have great team chemistry.”
The biggest concern for Peters as the team prepares for the season is the role of setter. She said at the end of last season the Red Devils had three returning setters but by the first of this month as practices began, they had no returning setters.
“We took a hit in the setter position but we have some young players who are stepping up to the challenge. It’s about execution and understanding our setting options.”
Peters said Allen County is “small” at the setter spot with Keith at 5-5 and Ortiz at 5-4. She said Ortiz was a great find for the program.
“We saw match film only on Jacqui. She never took a campus visit but came here from Texas. Jacqui is the freshman captain. She is vocal and has an outstanding set of hands to set the ball with. She can create a fast pace for our offense,” Peters said.
“Alisha is a defensive specialist but set in high school. She is developing into a good setter for us.”
Allen County has a good group of young hitters who will develop as the season progresses.
“We’re looking to improve and grow throughout the season to be ready for playoffs,” she said.
Mertens has the highest vertical leap on the team and is quick. Peters said Mertens is “the most natural athlete I’ve ever seen and will blossom into a tremendous outside hitter.” Mertens is working hard on improving her defensive skills.
Billings is a middle hitter who is “natural in the position but needs to refine her game at the net. Randi is a definite offensive option for us in the middle.”
Douglas came to the ACCC campus over the summer for school from Yates Center High School. She worked hard over the summer to be effective for the Red Devils in the middle and right side up front.
The team’s “thumper” is Seichepine out of Jefferson County North High School. Peters said Seichepine can flat hit the ball as an outside hitter or from the right side.
“Jordyne’s sister played for Coffeyville and she visited there and decided on us,” Peters said.
Seichepine is now playing with a high school rival — Speer is a middle hitter from Valley Falls High. Peters said Speer is working hard to make the adjustments to college play.
“Man, I love her drive and she is vocal on the court. Sabrina (Stanley) is the opposite as a defensive player on the back row,” Peters said.
“She is quiet back there but she’s so skilled, quick and smart. Sabrina is silent by deadly in the back row in getting to balls and keeping it alive.”
That fits into the Red Devils’ plan to be strong defensively. Peters also likes the way her team blocks at the net led by Jenicke and Giardina.
The Red Devils are preparing to make a better run this season with a young team.
“These girls have come in here ready and willing to work hard as a team. They realize what it is going to take to be successful,” Peter said.
Allen County Community College
2011 Volleyball Roster
No. Name Height Position Class Hometown
6 Makhala Giardina 5-7 RH/OH So. Topeka
9 Alli Jenicke 5-9 OH So. Kansas City, Kan.
1 Nicole Reed 5-7 Libero So. Bonner Springs
12 Randi Billings 5-11 MH Fr. Silver Lake
15 Autumn Douglas 5-11 MH/RH Fr. Toronto
2 Alisha Keith 5-5 Setter Fr. Owasso, Okla.
10 Hayley Mertens 5-10 OH Fr. Kingman
8 Jacqui Ortiz 5-4 Setter Fr. Canutillo, Texas
11 Jordyne Seichepine 6-1 OH/RH Fr. Nortonville
13 Kaitlyn Speer 5-10 MH Fr. Valley Falls
5 Sabrina Stanley 5-2 DS Fr. Raytown, Mo.
Head coach: Jessica Peters
Assistant coaches: Whitney Falkenstien, Todd Francis
Community College
2011 Volleyball Schedule
Aug. 26-27 — Fort Scott Tournament
Aug. 29 — Longview, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 — Kansas City, Kan., 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 7 — Labette, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 9-10 — Highland Tournament
Sept. 12 — Northeastern Oklahoma, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 — Fort Scott, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 16-17 — Air Force Tournament
Sept. 21 — Highland, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 24 — ACCC Invitational
Sept. 26 — Butler County, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 — Independence, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 30-Oct. 1 — Coffeyville Tournament
Oct. 3 — Johnson County, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 — Neosho County, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 8 — Ottawa Triangular, 3 p.m., 5 p.m.
Oct. 10 — Northeastern Oklahoma, 6 p.m.
Oct. 12 — Cowley County, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 — Longview, 6 p.m.
Oct. 21 — Cottey College, 7 p.m.
Oct. 24 — Hesston, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 26 — Coffeyville, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 5-6 — Region VI Tournament
Home matches is bold.
