Seven members of Waubonsee Community College's volleyball program recently received recognition from the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) and the NJCAA's Region IV for their outstanding play this Fall. The group was once again headlined by the McPherson twins, outside hitter Olivia and setter Kiara. Both were named to the All-ISCC First Team for the second straight season, with Olivia chosen the ISCC Player of the Year. The dynamic duo, along with Jordan Weber, were each named to the All-Region squad as well. In addition, Weber and Evelyn Martin were selected All-ISCC First Team, with teammates Kaylee Read and Anna Gonzalez tabbed All-ISCC Second Team. Head Coach Steve Kish was named the ISCC Volleyball Coach of the Year after leading the Chiefs to the league championship with a 7-0 record.
Olivia McPherson was an offensive force for the Chiefs, leading the team in both kills and points at just 5'5" tall. The sophomore from Aurora West High School placed in the top-20 among all NJCAA Division II players in five different categories. McPherson was 18th nationally with 442 kills and 19th in kills per set with a 3.91 average. The North Aurora resident was also tied for 12th in the nation with 71 service aces, tied for 16th in points with 531.0 overall, and tied for 19th with a 4.6 points per set average. Named to the Region All-Tournament team as well, McPherson was also top-50 nationally with 490 digs. Despite only playing 47 matches in her Waubonsee career the last two seasons due to the Covid pandemic, McPherson still finished sixth all-time in kills, third in total matches with double-digit kills, seventh in digs and ninth in points in the Chiefs' record book. The outside hitter achieved much of that while simultaneously playing forward for Waubonsee's soccer team this fall, helping the Chiefs' soccer squad capture the ISCC and Region IV championships.
Directing the Chiefs' offense from her setter position, Kiara McPherson ended up 12th nationally in assists and assists per set. The sophomore finished with 1,070 assists overall, the fourth highest single season total in program history. The Aurora West High School alumnus averaged 9.47 assists per set, booked 38 service aces, tallied 255 digs, and registered 53 total blocks despite standing just 5'5" tall. In only 47 career matches McPherson tallied 1,548 assists, the third most all-time in the program's history. She also simultaneously played for the Chiefs' soccer team this Fall, scoring a dozen goals while helping the squad make a second consecutive trip to the National Tournament.
Weber, a 6'0 freshman led the Chiefs with 75 total blocks on the season from her middle hitter position. The Elburn native also contributed 194 kills, 33 service aces and 286.0 points before suffering a season-ending knee injury just before the beginning of post-season play. Martin, a 5'9" outside hitter from Newark High School, was second on the team with 47 service aces and third in kills with 204. The sophomore also finished fourth on the Chiefs' crew in points with 263.5 and digs with 286 overall. Read, 5'7 sophomore from Plano High School, came off the bench to contribute 80 kills, 26 service aces, 75 digs and 42 total blocks. The right-side hitter finished the season with 133.5 points. Gonzalez, a 5'10" freshman from Plano, was second on the team with 239 kills. The outside hitter also was credited with 325 digs, 34 total blocks and was second in points as well with 393.0 on the season.
In 10 seasons at Waubonsee, Kish has guided the Chiefs to 237 wins overall with a pair of Region titles and four runner-up finishes. During his tenure Waubonsee has won 82 percent of its' ISCC matches, going a combined 59-13, capturing three league crowns and finishing second five other times. Waubonsee finished the season 23-10 overall, losing in the semi-finals of the Region IV Tournament.
Olivia McPherson Kiara McPherson Jordan Weber Evelyn Martin Kaylee Read Anna Gonzalez Coach Steve Kish