News - Nine Home Volleyball Matches Coming up at Kalamazoo Valley

Nine Home Volleyball Matches Coming up at Kalamazoo Valley

First conference play is Sept. 12 on campus

Volleyball season is underway at Kalamazoo Valley Community College! You're invited to drop in at any time at the home games, which are always free at the college's Texas Township Campus. The volleyball team is heading into the 2023 season under new Head Coach Rhonda Sturgeon and new Assistant Coaches Makayla Bootland and Allison Sturgeon.The Lady Cougars will have their first conference match on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. against Marian University's Ancilla College. It'll be right here on campus! Come out and wear your college apparel! Below are the rest of the home games:

  • 6:30 p.m. | Friday | SEPT. 8 vs. North Central Michigan College
  • 6:30 p.m. | Tuesday | SEPT. 19 vs. Kellogg Community College
  • 6:30 p.m. | Thursday | OCT. 5 vs. Marian University's Ancilla College
  • 6:30 p.m. | Tuesday | OCT. 10 vs. Lansing Community College
  • 6:30 p.m. | Thursday | OCT. 12 vs. Kellogg Community College
  • 6:30 p.m. | Tuesday | OCT. 17 vs. Lake Michigan College
  • 6:30 p.m. | Thursday | OCT. 19 vs. Southwestern Michigan College
  • 6:30 p.m. | Thursday | OCT. 26 vs. Glen Oaks Community College

Find the full schedule at athletics.kvcc.edu. Follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok @kvccvb.

With the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) adding additional teams and a third conference, the Cougars are looking forward to being a top competitor in the Western Conference this season.

The Lady Cougars will rely heavily on the offensive skills of returning 2022 Honorable Mention All-Western Conference setter Rylie Glass, who will also serve as one of our co-captains. Returning from the defensive side is Rainie Atherton, a dynamic defensive specialist, to add leadership and consistency to the defense and serve receive. She will share the co-captain responsibilities. Also adding to the Cougars' defensive line is returning player Laural Barno, whose season was cut short last year due to an injury.

Kalamazoo Valley adds nine freshmen to the 2023 roster, including MHSAA All-State 2nd Team outside hitter Grace Wood (Gull Lake), who helped lead her high school team to the state quarterfinals. Wood's resume also includes All-Conference and All-District honors, as well as both district and regional championships. Middle blockers Megan Hecht (Sturgis) and Lilian Ferris (Delton Kellogg), who both received All-Conference honors, along with Riley McEwen (Paw Paw), who was named All-Conference Honorable Mention Outside Hitter, will add depth to the Cougar offense.

The Cougars will also look to freshman setter Gabriella High (Lawton), who helped lead her high school team to a district championship and received All-Conference 1st Team and All-Regional Player honors, for leadership on offense. Outside hitters Gisell Macedo (Three Rivers) and Rhayna Smith (Comstock) will bolster the offensive side. Adding to Kalamazoo Valley Community College's serve receive and defense are defensive specialists Candis Myers (Fowler), All-Area CMAC Honorable Mention, and Grace Cherette (Vicksburg). The Cougars are also excited about transfers Madison Burke (Homer) and Carly Smith (Portage Central), who will both be offensive and defensive threats.