By Shane Madden
The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team will kick off their season Friday, Aug 19, traveling to Rockford, Illinois for the McHenry County Invite.
Last year, the Raiders finished 24-7 overall and 14-0 in conference play, falling in the finals of the Great Lakes District B tournament to Terra State Community College. Just one game shy of participating in the NJCCA National Title tournament.
The Raiders 2022 roster includes nine returning players from last year’s postseason run including; Audrey Torres (All-Region, First Team All-Conference), and Shannon Russell (Second Team All-Conference), as well as Kara Hecht, Karrissa Ferry, and Eliza Thelen who were all named All-Conference Honorable Mention.
GRCC will start their season ranked No. 11, per the National Junior College Association Division II poll, and the MCCAA Northern Conference coaches poll revealed them as the favorite to win the newly formed MCCAA North Conference.
The Raiders couldn’t agree more.
“Before our first day of practice, we all sat down as a team and planned our goals for the season,” said third year Raider Audrey Gower. “Being undefeated in conference, winning the state title, qualifying for nationals and the ultimate goal of bringing home a national championship.”
The Raiders will face their first (and second) tough matchup on day one of the regular season, with back-to-back matches against No. 4 Iowa Central CC and No. 3 Johnson County CC.
GRCC is poised and ready for another shot this year.
“I’m very confident that this year’s team has what it takes to contend for another regional championship and get back to nationals,” Coach Chip Will said earlier this month. “We should have strong leadership from our nine sophomores and a great incoming class and I’m very excited to get the season underway.”
