News Releases

Owens Community College Express Volleyball Program Finishes Fourth in NJCAA National Championship Tournament

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – The Owens Community College women’s volleyball team recently completed one of its most successful seasons in program history finishing fourth among 16 teams in the NJCAA Division II National Championship Tournament. Owens served as the host site for the national tournament.

Owens totaled two victories and two loses during the three-day double elimination consolation tournament. Tournament wins came againstKirkwood Community College and Iowa Central Community College. The Express’ tournament loses were to Cowley County Community College and Parkland College. This was Owens’ third trip to the NJCAA Division II National championship tournament and their best finish in program history at this level, besting the 2003 team’s fifth place finish. Additionally, the Express participated in five Division III national championship tournaments and finished third in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

“I am extremely proud of our Owens Community College Express volleyball team,” said Owens Express Head Coach Sonny Lewis. “We had a great year, which is a direct reflection on this team. This is one of the best groups of student-athletes I have ever coached. Team was first and foremost on their mind whenever they set foot on the volleyball court. They have represented Owens Community College with dignity and class and should proud of their very successful season.”

Express women’s volleyball completed the 2012 season with a 37-11 overall record and captured its 12th Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) regular season championship in the last 13 years. Coach Lewis’ squad finished 12-0 in the OCCAC regular season standings and was ranked No. 17 in the latest NJCAA Division II national volleyball regular season poll.

Team members are Molly Hilfinger of Whitehouse, setter (Anthony Wayne H.S.); Alyssa Meis of Curtice, outside hitter (Genoa H.S.); Brandi Schimming of Martin, defensive specialist (Genoa H.S.); Kennedy Geyman of Monroe, Mich., defensive specialist/outside hitter (Jefferson H.S.); Tiffani Hobbs of Toledo, rightside hitter (Toledo Central Catholic H.S.); Kenzie Kleinhenz of St. Henry, rightside hitter (St. Henry H.S.); Dakia Sellers of Mansfield, outside hitter/middle blocker (Madison H.S.); Jazmine Thomas of Lima, middle blocker (Lima Senior H.S.); Lisa Urbanski of Toledo, defensive specialist (Notre Dame Academy); Bailey Windham of Monroe, Mich., setter (St. Mary Catholic Central H.S.), and Dominique Yates of Toledo, middle blocker/outside hitter (Bowsher H.S.).

Owens Community College is an accredited two-year, state-assisted institution of higher education that has served Northwest Ohio since 1965. With a commitment to providing small classes, personal attention and unmatched affordability, the College serves the diverse academic needs of credit and non-credit students on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, as well as at the Arrowhead Park Learning Center in Maumee and the Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo. Owens offers associate degrees that transfer to baccalaureate degrees in the Arts and Sciences and over 130 technical program areas in Agriculture, Business, Health Sciences, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Skilled Trades, and Engineering and Transportation Technologies. Owens students also can earn the first two years of a bachelor’s degree with a smooth transfer to any area four-year college or university. For more information, visit www.owens.edu.

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