Volleyball: Big Wins in Wichita

The Central Community College volleyball team remained undefeated with an impressive showing at the inaugural Wichita Sports Forum Kickoff Volleyball Tournament. The Raiders recorded victories over four team ranked in the top 20. A brief recap of each match is below. CCC will host its home opener at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, in Raider Fieldhouse. A canned food donation drive for the CCC-Columbus Food and Hygiene Pantry will be held. Individuals are asked to bring two or more canned food items as the price of admission.

Match 1: vs. #6 Coffeyville CC

The Red Ravens pushed the Raiders to the limit before CCC was able to earn a 3-2 win. The Raiders took the first two sets – 25-23, 27-25 – before Coffeyville muscled its way back in the third and fourth sets – 25-16, 25-15. In the decisive set, CCC held on 15-13 to get the win.

Amber Anderson led the Raiders in kills with 15, while Paxton Throne was tops in assists with 38. Jessica Eurek totaled 28 digs.

Match 2: vs. # 10 Cowley County CC

The Tigers won the opening set, 25-22, before the Raiders clawed back with three wins – 25-20, 25-20. 25-15.

Amber Anderson's 15 Kills led CCC, while Paxton Throne tallied 38 assists. Jessica Eurek finished with a team-best 25 digs.

Match 3: vs. #2 Lincoln Land CC

The Raiders scored a huge victory with a 3-2 win over last year's national championship runners up, Lincoln Land CC.

The Loggers took command in the opening set by building up a 16-10 lead before the Raiders came storming back to trail 23-21. CCC held Lincoln Land scoreless and took the first game, 25-23. The Loggers took the second set with an identical 25-23 final to even it all at one apiece. The two teams swapped victories in the third and fourth sets, ironically by the same final scores of 25-19. CCC took set three, followed by Lincoln Land taking the fourth set. The Raiders matched the Loggers' opening-set vigor with a 15-6 final in game five to win the match.

Maeghan Pieper led the Raiders with 18 kills and three aces, while Chainey Tompkin had 14 kills. Paxton Throne amassed 46 assists and Jess Eurek logged 18 digs.

Match 4: vs. #17 Johnson County (Kansas) CC

The upset-minded Cavaliers took the first two sets – 25-20, 25-16 – before the Raiders were able to tie it up with victories in sets three and four – 25-16, 25-22. Johnson County gave a good fight in the fifth and final set before CCC claimed the win, 15-11.

Chainey Tompkin and Maeghan Pieper led the Raiders in kills with 15 and 10, respectively. Both players each had one solo block and four assisted blocks. PaxtonThrone dished out 41 assists to go along with a pair of solo blocks and three assisted blocks. Maddie Davis served up a team-high six aces, while Lexi Holland recorded 23 digs and 9 kills.

 "Overall it was a tremendous to find ways to win against such quality competition," said CCC head coach Mary Young. "We played without Amber Anderson (on Saturday) as she was ill with a virus, so it was gratifying to see the team work through adversity and to rise up to the challenge. I can't say enough about our resolve and toughness to come back on Johnson County and earn the 3-2 win in the final match of the weekend."