JC one win away from nationals

The Jimmies are one win away from their first ever appearance in the national tournament.

Jamestown College swept Valley City State and Ashford (Iowa) Friday at the Association of Independent Institutions tournament in Mayville.

All that stands between the 26-7 Jimmies and nationals now are the host Comets, a team they’re 3-0 against this fall, although coach Jon Hegerle is expecting a doozy.

“Mayville is playing extremely well. They’re competing harder and better than they have all season,” Hegerle said. “It’s going to be tough.”

The Jimmies and Comets play today at 5:30 p.m. The winner advances to the championship, which follows at 7:30, against either top-seeded Cal State-San Marcos or Ashford, Iowa.

JC 3, VCSU 0

The Jimmies didn’t allow the Vikings over 19 in any of the three sets in a tidy win.

Katie Zent’s 11 kills were team-leading.

It wasn’t a flawless match, or day for that matter Hegerle said, but two wins nonetheless.

“I don’t think we necessarily played our best volleyball. We had way too many hitting and serving errors, but this time of the year it’s all about finding a way to get it done and we were able to do that,” Hegerle said.

Kelsey Deragisch had 18 assists and 10 digs, both team-leading.

JC 3, Ashford 0

The Jimmies lost to the tall-up-front Saints last month 3-1, but not this time.

In three competitive sets Jamestown College swept the Saints to win its three-team pool.

“We didn’t give long runs and we were multi-dimensional offensively,” Hegerle said. “And we passed better and served better against Ashford.”

Kaitlyn Rogalla pounded down 16 kills in just three sets. The 5-foot-9 Zent added 10 against the Ashford wall, which features four girls over 6-foot-1.

Deragisch had 18 assists. Lee turned up 24 digs and Sarah Becker had three blocks.

“There are four good teams left,” Hegerle said. “It should be a pretty interesting day.”

Also Friday, Becker, Lee and Zent were named to the all-A.I.I. first team. Lee was also named Libero of the Year. Rogalla was named honorable mention.

Association of Independent

Institutions Tournament

At Mayville

Pool play

Jamestown College 3, Valley City State 0

Valley City State 18 19 17

Jamestown College 25 25 25

Jamestown College statistics

Kelsey Deragisch: 2 kills, 18 assists, 2 aces, 10 digs.

Alaina Brown: 4 kills, 1 ace, 7 digs.

Kaitlyn Rogalla: 4 kills, 2 digs.

Janna Johnson: 5 kills, 2 digs, 1 block.

Katie Zent: 11 kills, 11 digs, 5 blocks.

Emilee Schutta: 1 kill, 2 digs, 1 block.

Katie Lee: 1 ace, 8 digs.

Beth Segerholm: 4 digs.

Kaia Buck: 10 assists, 1 ace, 7 digs.

Alex Hanson: 1 block.

Sarah Becker: 4 kills, 1 assists, 3 blocks, 1 dig.

Kaitlyn Bollingberg: 2 kills, 2 digs, 2 blocks.

Jamestown College 3, Ashford, Iowa 0

Jamestown College 25 25 26

Ashford 22 22 24

Jamestown College statistics

Deragisch: 1 kill, 24 assists, 9 digs.

Brown: 6 kills, 1 assist, 8 digs.

Rogalla: 16 kills, 3 digs.

Johnson: 6 kills, 5 digs, 1 block.

Zent: 10 kills 1 assist, 9 digs, 2 blocks.

Schutta: 8 kills, 2 aces, 3 digs, 1 block.

Lee: 4 assists, 2 aces, 19 digs.

Segerholm: 12 digs.

Buck: 17 assists,

Becker: 5 kills, 1 assist, 3 digs, 3 blocks.

Sun sports editor Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at daves@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, jimmes, volleyball