Volleyball Downs Monroe, Advances in National Tournament
Cedar Rapids, IA — Calhoun volleyball opened their first-ever NJCAA National Tournament appearance with a statement win, outlasting Monroe University 3–2 in a five-set thriller on Wednesday morning. The Warhawks battled through early miscues and momentum swings to secure the program's first national tournament victory with set scores of 22–25, 26–24, 25–15, 24–26, and 15–8.
Calhoun started slowly, committing seven errors in the opening frame to Monroe's two, yet still managing to keep the set within reach. The Warhawks responded with poise in the second, edging the Mustangs in a tightly contested battle before seizing full control in the third. Behind a blistering .300 team hitting percentage, Calhoun rolled to a dominant 25–15 win and a 2–1 match lead.
Monroe, soon to transition to NCAA Division II, punched back in the fourth as Calhoun faltered with 14 errors, forcing a decisive fifth. From there, the Warhawks slammed the door, racing ahead early and never looking back in a commanding 15–8 finish.
As has been the case all season, Calhoun's leaders delivered on the national stage. Maddie Schwabe paced the offense with 41 assists and added 19 digs. ACCC Tournament MVP Avery Boyd posted 18 kills, 3 aces, and 14 digs, while Laney Kelley continued her standout play with 13 kills on an exceptional .440 hitting percentage. Libero Lucy Means anchored the back row with 20 digs and 3 service aces.
Head Coach and NJCAA Region 22 Coach of the Year Jamiee Freeman praised her team's toughness and response to adversity. "I'm so proud of the resilience this group showed today," Freeman said. "Playing the first match at 9 a.m. isn't easy, and you saw some of those early struggles, but the girls responded exactly the way we knew they would. They stayed strong, stayed together, and earned a tremendous win. We're going to get some rest and get prepared for tonight."
Monroe (34–7) moves into the consolation bracket, while Calhoun (32-3) advances to face No. 1 seed, and tournament host, Kirkwood this evening at 5:30 p.m.