Volleyball to face Casper College in NJCAA tournament opener

Opening match is Thursday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m.

Amanda Booren-- November 12, 2012

PASADENA, Texas – In a hunt for a second national title in program history, the San Jacinto College volleyball team will face Casper College in opening round action of the 2012 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) volleyball tournament this week.

San Jac (33-2), seeded fourth in the national tournament, will face 13^th-seed Casper College (23-17) on Thursday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. Casper College defeated Western Wyoming Community College to win the Region IX championship last weekend, and advance to the NJCAA national tournament.

San Jacinto College went 4-1 at the Region XIV tournament, en route to its eighth-straight conference tournament championship, and eighth-straight trip to the NJCAA national tournament. It is the 15^th overall appearance – ninth in the last 11 years – in the national tournament for San Jacinto College.

San Jacinto College held the top spot in the national poll for much of the 2012 season. Sophomore duo Oni Lattin (Houston / Bellaire HS [San Diego State Univ.]) and Bakima (Nogent-sur-Oise, France / Lycee Emmanuel Mounier) lead the team on offense, averaging 2.38 and 2.78 kills per set, respectively. Fellow classmate Marlaina Pleydle (Victorville, Calif. / Victor Valley HS) leads the nation in blocks per set with a 1.47 mark, while Lattin is fifth with a 1.35 per set mark.

Bakima, Pleydle, and Lattin, along with Julia Menhart (Hormannsberg, Germany / FOS Friedberg), and Krista Koopman (China Spring / China Spring HS) earned all-conference first-team honors. Shelbee Pier (Huffman / Huffman HS) was named to the all-conference second team. Menhart was named the conference libero of the year and Bakima is the Region XIV most valuable player.

The 2012 NJCAA volleyball national championship is slated for Nov. 15-17 at the West Plains Civic Center in West Plains, Mo. All national tournament games can be seen and heard live online on NJCAA TV at www.ihigh.com/njcaatv, powered by PSB Live. Tournament information, including results, is available at www.njcaavb1.com.

Last season, San Jac finished fourth at the national tournament. For more information about San Jacinto College volleyball, visit www.sanjacsports.com.

About San Jacinto College

Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. The Achieving the Dream Leader College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate options, including university transfer and career preparation. Students also benefit from the College’s job training programs, renowned for meeting the needs of growing industries in the region. San Jacinto College graduates contribute nearly $630 million each year to the Texas workforce. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College.

For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150, visit www.sanjac.edu, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.