NIACC volleyball team moves to 4-0

August 28, 2016

By The Globe Gazette staff

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The NIACC volleyball team continued its strong start to the season with wins over Dakota County Technical College and St. Cloud Technical and Community College on Saturday.

"We finished the tournament 4-0 and we are happy with the strong start of the season," NIACC coach Chris Brandt said. "Next week we start conference play so we need to build on the foundation from this weekend."

The Lady Trojans, who defeated DCTC 25-22, 25-18, 25-23 and SCTCC 27-25, 25-21, 25-21 received 29 kills, 22 digs and two service aces from Meagan Miller.

Kaylee Whittington added 15 kills, seven digs and two blocks, Aubury Coleman had 13 kills and four blocks and Keely Heller had 10 kills and seven blocks for NIACC.

Meanwhile, Hailey Winter had 31 assists and seven digs, Jackie Bleifus had 26 assists, eight digs and two service aces, Liv Block recorded 14 digs and two service aces, Amanda Borden had four kills and three service aces, Brooke Greenwood had four blocks and two kills and Becca Konz had two kills and a block for the Lady Trojans.

NIACC hosts Ellsworth at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Notes: Brandt is 11-2 vs. DCTC ... Brandt is 2-3 vs. St. Cloud TCC ... Whittington has 457 career kills, which ranks 9th on career school list since the 1998 season ... Caitlyn Hanig, who played at NIACC in 2013-14, has 461 career kills ... Winter has 674 career assists, which ranks 9th on career school list since 1998 season ... Block has 475 career digs, which ranks 11th on school career list since 1998.

NIACC SEASON LEADERS

Kills - Meagan Miller 61, Kaylee Whittington 37, Keely Heller 27, Aubury Coleman 18.

Assists - Hailey Winter 67, Jackie Bleifus 61.

Digs - Miller 56, Liv Block 42, Whittington 28.

Ace serves - Whittington 7, Amanda Borden 6, Winter 6.

Blocks - Heller 12, Coleman 8, Brooke Greenwood 7.

NIACC SINGLE-MATCH SEASON HIGHS

Kills - Meagan Miller 24 vs. Mesabi Range CTC (8-26-16).

Assists - Jackie Bleifus 25 vs. Mesabi Range CTC (8-26-16); Hailey Winter 25 vs. Mesabi Range CTC (8-26-16).

Digs - Miller 20 vs. Mesabi Range CTC (8-26-16).

Ace serves - Kaylee Whittington 4 vs. Mesabi Range CTC (8-26-16).

Blocks - Keely Heller 5 vs. DCTC (8-27-16) 

CAREER KILLS (1998-)

Casey Spree (1998-99) 766

Rachael Spree (2000-01) 665

Leslie Junker (2000-01) 664

Amanda Kramer (2001-02) 647

Sarah Heineman (2007-08) 615

McKenzie Heue (2011-12) 576

Jayna Blome (2008-09) 560

Caitlyn Hanig (2013-14) 461

Kaylee Whittington (2015-16) 457

Natalie Meyer (1998-99) 412