The Cavaliers volleyball team enters the 2021 season with new coaching staff, four returning players and nine new faces. Through the changes, the team has adapted well. They are using these changes as opportunities to grow, compete and achieve greatness.
“Going into this season as a new coach, there are a lot of different emotions," said Head Coach Jennifer Hoekstra. "I feel this team has the potential to rise up to any challenges that are set before them.”Coach Hoekstra is in her first year as head coach, and is joined by Assistant Coach Jennifer Ostrowski. They bring a lot of experience and great energy to the team."We go into the season with a lot of great talent and a team that is not afraid of hard work," Hoekstra said.. "We are here to 'Rise together because greatness is limitless.'”
Alayna Valone-
Alayna Valone a standout winger at Reed Custer High School will add some speed and creativity on field for the Lady Cavs this upcoming Fall season. Alayna’s pace will cause defensive thirds some trouble and help create scoring opportunities. She adds that creativity factor in the final with her crossing ability with both feet and her finishing! Excited to welcome aboard Alayna Valone.
Scotty Eldridge-
The defense for the Cavaliers is in good hands with incoming freshman Scotty Eldridge. Eldridge brings to the Cavaliers a defensive tenacity that is hard to find. Hard nose for winning 50/50 balls coupled with his smart decision making out of the back, will allow the Cavs to be very dynamic moving forward in the attack.
Samantha Porras-
Very excited to have Samantha Porras joining the Lady Cavs this fall. Samantha was a standout goalie for Southland Striker and Slayers Academy. Samantha brings an amazing work ethic/drive to be the best player she can be. She also brings a fearlessness approach to goalie that will provide as a great anchor to the defense.
Aiyana Lopez-
The rich keep on getting richer! We are excited to bring on Aiyana Lopez a stand out winger at Kankakee High School! Lopez is bringing to the Lady Cavs a can dot spirit along with her attacking third creativity. Aiyana Lopez final third creativity will be vital for the Lady Cavs this upcoming fall! We are excited to bring on such a talent like Aiyana Lopez.
Mia Robbins-
We are very excited to have Mia Robbins joining the Lady Cavs this upcoming Fall! Mia is a force to be reckon with in the back of the net! She brings an elite level of athleticism to the goalie position! Mia will be a vital part of the Lady Cavaliers!
Jesus Guzman-
Jesus has been a anchor for the Bradley Bourbonnais High school Men’s team, and will bolster the Cavs defense. Jesus has a great soccer IQ, and his size will pose a problem for opposing teams.
Tess Wallace-
The general of the middle field has been appointed! Tess Wallace a dynamic center mid for the BBCHS Boilers over her four years there, will come aboard for the Cavaliers this upcoming Fall! Tess’s decision making with the ball is going to create chaos for the opponent. Tess offensive mindset in setting up teammates for goal scoring opportunities.
Hailey Brady-
Goals are the name of the game! We are excited to add a dynamic goal scorer in Hailey Brady! Hailey has a knack for putting the ball in the back of the net! Hailey is very good in the air and winning headers off corners! She provides great runs into the box giving opportunities to score or her teammates!
Hailey Brooks-
The Lady Cavaliers are happy to welcome Hailey Brooks to the program! Brooks will help anchor the Cavaliers defensive! Hailey’s defensive IQ will help sure things up in the back along with her ability to go forward she poses the opposing team as serious threat!
Two teams and 23 individual athletes from Kankakee Community College have been awarded NJCAA honors for academic achievement during the 2020-21 school year. The awards were formerly called Academic All-American.
The women’s volleyball and men’s soccer teams were named 2021 NJCAA All-Academic Teams for having team GPAs above 3.0. The women’s volleyball team had an overall team GPA of 3.32 and the men’s soccer team GPA was 3.17.
The All-Academic First Team members, with a 4.0 grade point average, are:
Congratulations to our Lady Cavs!
2021 Region IV Women’s Basketball
Division II All- Region Team
Brandi Hudson (All-American Nominee)
Madison Allen
Live streaming ALL Home games for all 7 sports on the Kankakee Community College - Athletics YouTube channel
Check out their team schedule page for a list of all home and away games:
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Kankakee Community College police officer Vernal Turner does a lot of walking around the college. In his second job, he runs the sidelines as a basketball official.
In spring 2021, Turner will be inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his work as an official. For 17 years, Turner has been an Illinois High School Association official.
He currently officiates for the Northern Athletic Conference, Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference and the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. For eight seasons, Turner has been an official at NBA training camps for the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls. In 2019, he became a court side administrator, working for the NBA.
Among the noteworthy high school games he has officiated are seven Chicago city championships; three IHSA boys basketball championships (3-A in 2013, 4-A in 2014, and 3-A and 4-A in 2019); and the McDonald’s All-American game in 2016. He will be the first person to have played in IBCA All-Star Game (1981), officiate the IBCA All-Star Game (2016), and be inducted into the IBCA Hall of Fame.
In all, there will be more than 100 new IBCA Hall of Fame members, including nine officials. Due to COVID-19, the IBCA has not finalized its plans for an induction ceremony.
Turner also is president of Top Notch Officiating Camp for Officials Training and Development. In 2019 and 2020, he organized the Top Notch Health Awareness Challenge at KCC. The event pitted Kankakee-area high school basketball teams playing teams from Chicago. Each team also participated in health awareness sessions.
At KCC, Turner has been a part-time police officer since 2015.
Posted On: 06/04/20
Twenty-three Kankakee Community College student-athletes have received NJCAA honors for academic achievements during the 2019-20 school year.
The All-Academic First Team members, with a 4.0 grade point average, are: Leighann Allison of Kankakee, volleyball; Mallory Drake of Watseka, women’s basketball; Paige Glass of Kankakee, softball; Anna Jennings of Cissna Park, volleyball; Kloe Longtin of Herscher, volleyball; and Lanie Malone of Manteno, softball.
The All-Academic Second Team members, with grade point averages between 3.80-3.99, are: Makenna Goldtrap of Chebanse, softball; Eddie Saner of Springfield, baseball; and Julian Stadeli of Cissna Park, men’s basketball.
The All-Academic Third Team members, with grade point averages of 3.60-3.79, are: Madison Allen of Bushnell, women’s basketball; Owen Behrens of Prophetstown, baseball; Sloan Boyce of Cissna Park (pictured), volleyball; Sierra Cureton of Manteno, volleyball; Andrew Douglas of Watseka (pictured), men’s soccer; Ashley Harwood of Kankakee, volleyball; Isabelle Hille of Fort Wayne, Ind., women’s basketball; Michael Machnic of Walkerton, Ind., baseball; Michael Moshkovitz of Jerusalem, Israel, men’s basketball; Andrew Saliba of Peotone, men’s soccer; Emma Schriner of Bourbonnais (pictured), softball; Clayton Thompson of Schererville, Ind., baseball; Peyton Williams of Lafayette, Ind., baseball; and Kierra Williamson of Hazel Crest, women’s basketball.
Congratulations to Ashley Harwood!
2019 Women’s Volleyball Region IV Team
Division II (District A)
Congratulations to our Lady Cav Kassidi Burton for being named to the Volleyball Region IV District B All Tournament team!
Congratulations to our Academic All Americans. These athletes received a 3.60 or higher GPA.
Soccer
2017-2018 Bobby Cooper 3.84
2017-2018 Connor Blanchette 3.85
2017-2018 Santiago Mena 3.91
2017-2018 Nicolas Mena 3.91
2017-2018 Jacob McCleary 4
2018 Andrew Newsome 3.63
2018 Dawson Swearengen 3.77 *Freshman
Volleyball
2017-2018 Courtney Johnson 3.69
Softball
2018 Halle McCrory 3.75
2018 Megan Lanie 3.78 *Freshman
2018 Amber Daly 3.92
2018 Marissa West 3.64
Baseball
2017-2018 Hayden Stoewer 3.94
2017 Dylan Dodd 3.63
2018 Bryce Butler 3.65
2018 Dylan Post 3.76 *Freshman
2018 Wade Rankin 3.78 *Freshman
2018 Matt Kingery 3.77
The new athletics Facebook is now live. Please follow us for updates on teams, scores, and happenings in the athletic department at Kankakee Community College.
The Athletics Department is thrilled to introduce our brand-new website!
This site allows us to interact more than ever before through live social media feeds, news stories, and more. Please share a link to https://athletics.kcc.edu so friends and prospective students/athletes can stay up-to-date with our athletic programs.
What else?
We have improved site navigation so you can find details for both fans and athletes. We’re sure you’ll also notice the pictures are big and bold! Take a look around and you’ll plenty of other helpful information.
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Congratulations to 5 Volleyball athletes that maintained Honor Roll status the entire year!
Gabrielle Boudreau
Courtney Johnson
Erika Miller
Jenna Offerman
Peyton Thiesen
Lindsay Thompson is entering her first year as the head women’s volleyball coach for the Cavaliers. She is a graduate of Hanover Central High School in Cedar Lake, Indiana, where she played varsity volleyball all four years. Thompson went on to play collegiate volleyball at KCC for two years, including earning All-American honors her sophomore year (2010).
Coach Thompson has 13 years of experience coaching all age groups. She has coached middle school and high school; and has coached travel volleyball with Ignite Elite Volleyball in Crown Point, Indiana, for 10 years. Thompson has worked for CVS Pharmacy for eight years, and now works remotely for CVS Minute Clinic. She can’t wait to bring her love and passion for the game to the Cavs this year! Thompson lives in St. John, Indiana, and in her free time loves hanging out and caring for her 1 year old son, Rowan.
Jennifer Ostrowski (JO) is entering her second year as an assistant volleyball coach at KCC. She comes with experience from playing college volleyball in the middle at KCC and Peru State College in Nebraska.
JO is a full-time kindergarten teacher at Chebanse Elementary School and absolutely loves it! She can’t wait to bring her love for the game to the Cavaliers team again this year.
JO lives in Gilman with her boyfriend and their three awesome dogs, which keep them busy.