Northwest Mississippi Community College placed four players on the All-MACCC volleyball team, with freshman Sofia Gonzalez named conference player of the year and Allison Burchyett selected as coach of the year.
Gonzalez, a first-team honoree, had 421 kills and a .327 hitting percentage, with 105 errors on 965 attacks, according to the team. She also recorded 39 aces and 288 digs. In a match against Lurleen B. Wallace, she set a Northwest program record with 26 kills.
Burchyett received the coaching honor after leading the Rangers to their first 40-win season and a place in the NJCAA Division II national championship. She credited the recognition to the team and the support of Northwest staff, including assistant coach David Culver.
Sophomores Ariana Woods and Jania Rose also earned first-team recognition for the second time. Woods had 366 kills this season and 689 in her career, the most in program history. She set Northwest’s career blocks record when she reached 200 during the Gulf South District Championship game. Woods added 73 aces this season and has 103 in her career.
Rose, a libero, led the team’s back-row defense with 437 digs, averaging more than four per set. She handled 480 serve-receive chances with a .954 rate and 22 aces against her. Rose also recorded 45 aces this season, bringing her career total to 112.
Freshman outside hitter Valerie Hurdle was the other Ranger named to the conference team. The Holly Springs native had 285 kills and a .286 hitting percentage in her first college season. Burchyett said Hurdle had been a key part of the offense and praised her play in important moments.
Northwest had won the Region 23 Championship and Gulf South District Championship in consecutive weekends, according to the article. The NJCAA Division II national championship was scheduled to begin Nov. 18 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and run through Nov. 21. The tournament selection show was listed for Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 4 p.m. on the NJCAA Network.
