(Photo by: Will Bensman)

The JCCC Women’s Volleyball team is making big moves this season. With a current overall record of 24-7, they are averaging 13.06 kills per set and are ranked 6th in the NJCAA Dll. At this point, the Cavaliers are well into the playoffs after another hard-fought win against the 4th-ranked NJCAA Dll Cowley County Community College on Nov. 9th. So, what brought our Cavaliers to such high standing? Look no further for the answer, as one Cavalier in particular has been turning heads all season.

“Ava has had a crucial impact on the team from the moment she stepped into our gym,” said Women’s Volleyball head coach Jennifer Ei. “Her physicality at the net, matched with her strong work ethic, has allowed her to push the team to strive to be better every day in practices and games.”

While watching her play, one likely wouldn’t think that this is Ava Esser’s first season as a college athlete. Believe it or not, JCCC Volleyball’s top performer stepped on her first college court as a player only three months ago. Since then, she has given her team 406 kills, 191 digs and 77 total blocks. She has also made 894 total attacks, making 45% of her attacks end with a kill.

Despite being a top performer, Esser isn’t one to swipe up all the credit. When asked what she credits her performance to, she spoke only of her teammates.

“They’re just there for me. I don’t feel like I’m doing it by myself, we’re all a part of it,” Esser said.

By watching a game, it’s easy to see what she means. The team is highly coordinated through verbal and non-verbal communication. Their chemistry goes beyond what words can describe. The ball comes over the net, the setter puts it up; then, from out of nowhere the player I least expected to hit it spikes it down hard on the opponents’ floor, sometimes without a single word being spoken.

“I don’t know what we would do if we didn’t have team chemistry,” Esser added.

The JCCC Women’s Volleyball team will take on Pensacola State College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the NJCAA Dll Women’s Volleyball Championship on Wednesday, Nov. 19th.