Lorain County Community College Volleyball Makes History in Regional Tournament

When the 10 women of the Lorain County Community College Intercollegiate Volleyball team began their season, they had just one goal: hang a regional tournament banner in the gymnasium.

The Commodores earned their banner by finishing as runner-up in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XX, District G, Division III Tournament at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland on Oct. 25.

“We’re all very excited. This is the first time in LCCC’s volleyball history that a team was in the regionals,” Coach Jennifer Lee said.

LCCC advanced through the tournament bracket before falling to Butler Community College in the championship match. Three players won all-tournament honors: setter Kathleen Goodman of Wakeman (Midview High School); defensive specialist Stefanie Soto of Lorain (Clearview High School); and middle hitter Brannigan Fannin of Wakeman (Western Reserve High School).
As the only Division III team in the Ohio Community College Conference, the LCCC team consistently plays against athletes that attend Division II schools on scholarship.

“When we get a win, it’s a rush because we’re playing against scholarship kids,” Lee said.

Due to the lopsided conference, LCCC was offered the opportunity to participate in the regional tournament if their season record was better than .500 at the October 14 deadline. When the team finished their regular season with a record of 12-11, they were ecstatic to move on to the next level, Lee said.
“At the start of the season, you’re never sure what you’re going to get,” she said.

Since LCCC doesn’t offer athletic scholarships, most players are juggling class, work and the team.

“I was extremely hopeful at the start of the season, reminding them of the goal of being in NJCAA and having that banner in the gym if we made it to regionals,” Lee said.

Following a winning regular season, the team’s top players are receiving additional honors. Fannin was nominated for an All-American award and is ranked sixth in the country in the NJCAA Division III for most blocks, with a total of 105 and an average of 1.24 per set, and is ranked seventh in the country in total kills, with 311 and an average of 3.66 per set. She was also recently named to the First Team All-Conference. Fannin may continue her volleyball career after completing courses at LCCC, as she is being scouted by a Division I four-year college, Lee said.

Soto is ranked second in the country in digs with, 526 digs and an average of 6.26 per set and is being considered for an All-American award.

Goodman was named to the Honorable Mention list for All-Conference.

For a volleyball team that many people didn’t know existed, the Commodores made quite an impression. “We came out and shocked the pants off everyone,” Lee said.

In her second year as head coach, Lee said she is looking forward to continuing the team’s success next year and will continue to scout standout players in the area.

“This is a great opportunity, especially for kids that don’t get scholarships, to get exposed and picked up by four-year schools,” Lee said.

For more information on the intercollegiate volleyball team, visit www.lorainccc.edu/sports/intercollegiate+sports/volleyball.

Members of the volleyball team include:

November 10, 2009