Rochester, MN-
Two volleyball programs from the Minnesota College Athletic Conference concluded their season this weekend, win both competing for trophies in their final matches of the year at the 2019 NJCAA Division III Volleyball National Championships.
Central Lakes College takes the fifth place hardware home to Brainerd, defeating Harper 3-1. The Raiders were the #5 seed in the tournament, having won both the MCAC Northern Division regular season trophy and the 2019 Region XIIIB Volleyball tournament title. Head coach Jane Peterson saw her squad go 21-14 overall, with Raider Hailey Tihlarik earning MCAC Northern Division Player-of-the-Year honors. Sydney Berg captured NJCAA Region XIII Tournament MVP honors for Central Lakes College.
Rochester Community & Technical College, playing on home court in Rochester in front of a raucous crowd, fell just short of the third place trophy, losing 3-2 to Brookhaven College. Head coach Amber Zitzow and her team were an impressive 31-4 and did not concede a match at the NJCAA Division III level until their semi-final loss to Columbus State Community College on Friday. Carrie Rutledge, a 2018 NJCAA Division III All-America was one of several Yellowjackets who had stellar sophomore seasons; Rutledge claimed the MCAC Southern Division Player-of-the-Year award.
Teammate Brekkin McCready was named the Region XIIIA Tournament MVP as RCTC cruised through the Region post-season with a pair of 3-0 sweeps over Ridgewater and SCTCC, respectively.
NJCAA Division III Volleyball honors will be named by the NJCAA Division III Volleyball Committee in early December. For all things volleyball in the NJCAA Division III ranks, go to: https://www.njcaa.org/sports/wvball/2019-20/div3/index
For the Minnesota College Athletic Conference Volleyball All-State team announcement from November 4, please visit: https://www.mcacsports.org/sports/wvball/2019-20/releases/20191104fbbjg4
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system, as well as select member colleges in North Dakota and Wisconsin. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.
Be sure to follow our MCAC Facebook and Twitter feeds @MCACSports
OUR PURPOSE
The Marine Corps defends the people of the United States at home and abroad. To do that, we make Marines who win our Nation's battles and return as quality citizens.
Our Mission
To be the best Sports Company in the World.
YOUR SPORTING GOODS PARTNER
When you want your team to look as good as they play, trust the experts at Nicklasson Athletic Company. With more than 80 years of combines sales expertise, NAC is on your team with the latest, most innovative apparel and products to help your team, school, corporation or organization look and play their best. When you look great, you play great.