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The Raritan Valley Community College’s Women’s Volleyball team had a stellar season, making its first trip ever to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III Volleyball National Championship, which resulted with a #10 ranking in the country.

The RVCC athletes earned their trip to Nationals, held November 14-17 in Rochester Minnesota, after winning the Region XIX North Atlantic B District Championship. Of the 12 teams that earned bids into the national tournament, RVCC was given the 12th seed and was able to move up two spots and finish the week with a final ranking of #10 in the country.

Freshman Outside Hitter and First Team All-Region XIX Member Hannah Chiswick (Delaware Valley High School) commented after the tournament, “I think we have a really special group of talent this year for being able to make it to Nationals, and it was a total team effort. Of course we were fighting for number one, but we were just ecstatic to be there making history for RVCC Volleyball. Our success is a great start for the future of the program.”

The RVCC Lions lost to the #5 seeded Raiders from Central Lakes Community College (Minnesota) in the first Round of the tournament. With the loss, the Lions faced and beat the #8 seeded Hawks from Harrisburg Area Community College (Pennsylvania). The Lions then moved into the 9th-place game where they faced the Tigers from Queensborough Community College (New York) and ultimately lost.

Despite the defeat, “I couldn’t be more proud of this group of young ladies and what they were able to accomplish this season,” said RVCC Head Coach Phil Herro. Competing at Nationals, he said, "gave our team a chance to experience the highest quality volleyball in the country…. For those athletes looking to play at the four-year level, this gave them a taste of what is yet to come. We had such a close group before this trip, but there’s no denying they grew so much closer after all these experiences.”

Praising Assistant Coach Kelsie Fleming, Herro continued, “Since Kelsie’s arrival, our record is 60-13. We gained our first-ever ranking in the national top 10; won three straight Garden State Athletic Conference Championships; captured the school’s first ever Region XIX championship; and advanced to the National Championship Tournament where we were able to finish 10th in the entire nation. Her value is undeniable and this program wouldn’t be where we are today without her.”

The RVCC athletes finished the season 20-7 and will look to build off this year’s success for next year as they return with seven of their 13 players.

For additional information about RVCC Athletics, visit www.rvccathletics.com.

Ranked by BestColleges.com, WalletHub.com, and Niche.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to a Planetarium, Science Education Institute and 3M Observatory; a 1,000-seat Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.

The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, small business assistance through the Small Business Development Center, and professional development courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 20, 2019

PR #54