Acosta named Jayhawk East Most Valuable Player, Freshman of the Year
Providing the team with a dominant hitter on the right side, Cowley College freshman Roslandy Acosta was recently named the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Eastern Division Most Valuable Player. Acosta was also named the Freshman of the Year in the conference and was a First-Team All-Conference selection.
Cowley head coach Jenifer Bahner was happy to see Acosta recognized for her stellar play as the freshman’s 356 kills rank third in the conference and 14th in the nation. Along with leading the team in kills and hitting percentage, she is second in assists (547) and blocks (67).
“For a freshman to step in and get both awards is a great honor for her and our program,” Bahner said. “She is definitely deserving of both awards.”
Joining Acosta on the First-Team was Lady Tiger sophomore libero Michelle O’Dell, who was the only non-hitter selected to the First-Team. O’Dell led the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division in digs. Her 679 digs on the season ranks seventh nationally.
“She is 100 percent deserving of this award, it is neat to have a Libero up there,” Bahner said. “Being the only one on the first-team that is not a hitter means the coaches see she has gone a step beyond for our team.”
Freshman outside hitter/defensive specialist, Elena Berroteran, who has had a solid freshman season, was snubbed from the first two teams, but did receive honorable mention recognition.
“We all know the things she does for this team and she probably deserved to be a little higher, but this should give her some motivation for next year,” Bahner said.
Berroteran is second on the team only to Acosta in hitting percentage and kills (281), while leading the squad in aces (47). She also ranks fifth in the conference and 31st in the nation in digs (500).
The three players have helped Cowley capture conference and district titles. The Lady Tigers have won 16 matches in a row and are 29-4 on the season. They will take part in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament Nov. 19-21 in Wisconsin Dells, WI.
Bahner has done a tremendous job in her first season as head coach of the Lady Tigers and was as deserving as anyone to be named Coach of the Year in the Jayhawk East. However, the award went to Highland Community College’s Andrea Keller, who led the Lady Scotties to a record of 25-6 overall and a tie for second place in the conference behind Cowley.
All Conference Jayhawk East:
First-Team: Roslandy Acosta, Cowley; Jordan Lockwood, Johnson County; Caitlyn Muder, Highland; Crystal Blue, Butler; Raissa Santos, Coffeyville; Demetria Williams, Butler; Michelle O’Dell, Cowley.
Second-Team: Annie Gladbach, Kansas City; Torey Lyman, Johnson County; Nicole Rockhold, Allen County; Shardae Philogene, Independence; Kylie Stoppel, Cloud County, Cloud County; Macie Kuker, Highland.
Honorable Mention: Brittany Rohling, Neosho County; Alyx Glover, Coffeyville; Arin Hardy, Johnson County; Audra Teske, Labette; Elena Berroteran, Cowley; Lauren Thomas, Kansas City.
http://www.cowley.edu/news/releases/spo ... 02009.html
