ANNANDALE, VA (September 26, 2012) – Northern Virginia Community College’s women’s volleyball earned a national ranking in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II poll released today.

Going into the week, NOVA was riding a nine-game winning streak with a 10-1 overall record.  The only loss coming on the team’s season opening weekend at Howard (MD) Community College on September 1.

“One of our goals from the beginning was to be ranked nationally,” said head coach Marcus Robinson.  “Now that we have reached that goal we need to keep building towards our other goals including earning a spot in the post-season.  Today’s national poll is just the first step toward building the program.”

The team’s nine-game winning streak was snapped on Tuesday night at Potomac State College (WV).  The team fell 3-2 to the Catamounts after rallying from a 0-2 start.

On Friday the team travels to Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, NC and then on to Pitt Community College in Greenville, NC on Saturday.  The will play the host schools in addition to Cape Fear (NC) and Wake Tech (NC).

By John Reid
The motto of the Northern Virginia Community College Women’s Volleyball team is “Heart and Hustle,” and never were these words more on display as they won their fourth consecutive match with a dominating 3-0 defeat of Cecil College. In front of a raucous crowd for their 2012 home debut, the women took advantage of their short-handed opponent and established the tone early with an array of blocks and aces, winning their second match of the season against the Seahawks by scores of 25-11, 25-15, and 25-16.

NOVA Head Coach Marcus Robinson praised his squad for their versatility and ability to substitute for any given situation.

“It feels good,” said Robinson.  “We know that these girls can compete with anyone they play and this is just the start of where we can go."

This was also evident by the players’ reactions after the game. Sophomore setter Shannon Pier, among the NJCAA Division II Region 20 leaders in service aces at 1.85 per game, knows how the players have adopted the mantra of hustle on each play.

“These girls are heart and hustle. We live by our name,” said Pier.

She also discussed what she would like to see in the long run for the program.

“My personal goal is to help this team get to Ohio for the [NJCAA] National Championships. I want NOVA to be up there as a championship team, let people know that this is more than just a first year program. We know that we can compete.”

As they continue to execute with heart and hustle, that goal will be realized sooner rather than later.

NOVA returns home to the Ernst Center on Saturday, September 22 when they host CCBC-Catonsville at 10 am and Delaware Tech at 2 pm.  CCBC-Catonsville and Delaware Tech play at noon. 

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) women’s volleyball coach Marcus Robinson today announced that a pair of former Stonewall Jackson High School standouts signed National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Letters of Intent on Friday, May 25. 

Emily Anderson and Megan Schrecongost, both from Manassas, are the fifth and sixth student-athletes to ink with NOVA’s new NJCAA volleyball program.

“It will help to have two former teammates on our roster in 2012,” said Robinson, who just completed his third year directing the NOVA volleyball program. “They can really help our team chemistry and they are certainly very talented volleyball players.”

Schrecongost is a 5-8 outside or right side hitter with both high school and four years of club experience.  She was promoted from junior varsity to varsity as a sophomore.  During her senior year with SJHS, she was first in service points (48 aces) and third in digs (111). She plans to major in elementary education.

Anderson is a 5-9 middle or right side hitter and played four years at Stonewall Jackson.  She was the junior varsity captain in 2009 and she earned the coaches award during her senior campaign.

Northern Virginia Community College has competed as an independent club level for the past three seasons. In the 2012-13 season NOVA becomes full members of the NJCAA and eligible to compete for regional and national championships and other academic and athletic awards.

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) women’s volleyball coach Marcus Robinson inked four-student athletes to national letters of intent to play for one of the nation’s newest intercollegiate athletic programs on Friday, March 16 at NOVA’s Annandale Campus. This group represents NOVA’s first-ever signing class as new National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) members.

“This is an excellent recruiting class coming in that will provide us some strong net play and gives us a very big presence,” said Robinson. “They are all pretty versatile and that will give us good opportunities to be flexible which will make us even more competitive.”

Taylor Laksbergs (Alexandria, Va.) brings three years varsity experience to NOVA out of Edison High School. As a freshman, she was selected the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the junior varsity program. Laksbergs, a 5-foot-9 setter, earned a starting role as a sophomore and junior while earning the coaches award both seasons. As a senior, she was also the starting setter, co-captain, named the team MVP, and received second team National District awards. She was her volleyball club co-captain as well.

Ashley McMahon (Herndon, Va.) has been a two-year starter as a junior and senior on the Westfield High School varsity team. As a co-captain, the 5-foot-8 outside hitter led her team to the regional tournament in 2011. She played in 140 matches with career stats of 120 kills, 18 aces, 175 digs and 31 solo blocks.

Chelsea Dudley (Millboro, Va.) brings three years of varsity experience to the NOVA squad and a state championship. As a senior, she helped lead Bath County to the Virginia Group A, Division I state title with a 26-4 record. In her final season, the 5-foot-9 middle hitter had 112 kills and 32 blocks and earned all-district recognition. As a sophomore, she earned Bath County High School’s Heart Award and was the team’s most improved blocker for the 2009 state runners-up. In all, Bath County advanced to three straight Group A, Division I state tournament appearances with Dudley.

Moriah Ryans (Ashburn, Va.), a 5-foot-11 middle and outside hitter, competed for the XCVB volleyball club. She attended Briar Woods High School.

NOVA’s Volleyball Team will compete in the D-II level of the NJCAA.

Northern Virginia Community College has competed as an independent club level for the past three seasons. In the 2012-13 season NOVA is joining the NJCAA as full members and eligible to compete for regional and national championships and other academic and athletic awards.