North Platte – A new era opens for the North Platte Community College women’s volleyball team for the 2015 season. Alexa Hopping begins her first season as head coach after serving as an assistant coach the past couple of seasons under Sally Thalken, who retired after 34 years at the helm.
Hopping said, “We play a tough schedule and go to some tournaments that have ranked teams in them.”
The Lady Knights begin their season at home at the Subway Invite, which will include Region IX Division I powers Northeastern Junior College, Eastern Wyoming College, Casper College and Sheridan College.
The Lady Knights compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX Division II, along with Southeast Community College and Central Community College
In September, the Lady Knights will travel to Overland Park, Kansas to participate in the Johnson County Community College Invite. The teams are all Division II teams.
Hopping said, “In the Johnson County tournament, a lot of the best of the best teams in Division II are there so we get to see them before the national tournament.”
The Lady Knights will also travel to Fort Dodge, Iowa to participate in the Triton Invitational. This is the first year they have participated in the tournament. Iowa Central, also comes to the Subway Invite, but the Lady Knights do not play them.
The Lady Knights have four returning players and eight freshmen that will make up this year’s team.
Sophomores Aryn Meisinger from Gothenburg and Gabrielle Nickel from Axtell, along with freshman Shelby Wolever, from Snyder, Colo., will handle the setting duties.
Hopping said, “They are young, but they are quick learners, so getting them to be extensions on the floor of what the coaches want is what we are working on and consistency. The goal is to have the hitters produce, no matter who the setter is.”
Megan Chintala, from Fleming, Colo., Tracy Blake, from North Platte, and Anna Crane, from North Platte, will compete for the defensive specialist/libero position.
Sophomore Valerie Most, from Brady and freshman MaKenna Ketter, of Imperial will compete at the outside hitter position.
Meisinger, Wolever, Josie Palmer, from Brady, and Ashley Starr, from Stapleton, will compete for playing time at right side.
Sophomore Samantha Morgan, from Iliff, Colo., and freshman Jessica Lovitt, from Mullen, will anchor the middle blocker position.
Hopping said, “Depth at each position is one of our strengths. It helps in practice, and knowing that a girl can step into the position with no significant drop-off at that position will only help the team.”
The goal of the team is to make the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in Tucson, Ariz. Other goals for games center on blocking, passing and serving. Academically, the Lady Knights have set a team cumulative grade point average of 3.5.
The Lady Knights open the season Friday, August 21, by hosting the Subway Invite at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.