The Pratt Community College volleyball team finished runners-up in Region Vi for two years in a row, and four factors in that success have been awarded full scholarships to play at four-year universities next fall. Juliana Chavez will play at Division I Hampton University. Kalie Mader will play at Division II SW Oklahoma State, and Tatiana Gonzalez and Kate Trejos will play for Wayland Baptist University.
Juliana Chavez was an All-Conference/All-Region player for the Beavers. Chavez set and hit on the right side for both years. She finished the 2009 season hitting .197, with 136 kills. Chavez led the team with 4.5 assists/game. She was also second on the team with 25 aces on the year. Chavez finished her academic career with a 3.82 this spring and an overall 3.51 GPA. She was also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and will continue her studies toward a BS in Psychology.
“Like all of our players, I wish we could have Juli back for one more year,” said Head Coach Patrick Hall. “Not only did she continue to improve toward the end of the fall campaign, but she has also gotten stronger and quicker throughout the spring. That was a big factor in her getting a full ride at Hampton.”
Kalie Mader had a tough time making a decision, with four offers and an April deadline. Mader finally choose SW Oklahoma for their degree program in Exercise Science and Physical Therapy. Mader began her career hitting out of the middle as a freshman, then switched to setting and right side as a sophomore. Mader actually led the team in hitting percentage for much of the season, something that isn’t easy from the right side. An All-Conference/All-Region player her sophomore year, Mader was second on the team in hitting at .239 and 175 kills. She was also second in assists with 3.36/game. Mader was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, had two 4.0 semesters and finished with a 3.77 GPA.
“Kalie’s work ethic resulted in her not only moving from middle hitting to setting, but also in her being recognized as an All-Region player,” said Hall. “She matured a great deal between her freshman and sophomore seasons. She came in here with little experience setting, but wanting to prove to herself and everyone else that she could set in college. She certainly did that. Kalie is a very determined student-athlete, and there’s little doubt she will continue to have success.”
Tatiana Gonzalez was an All-Conference/All-Region player both seasons while at PCC. The first year she played her natural position as an outside, but in 2009 she had to switch to middle to protect her shoulder. The team was only able to put her back outside for the Regional Tournament. The move was a big factor in getting Pratt to the finals. Gonzalez hit .235 with 155 kills for the year. She also led the team on defense with 249 digs, and was second on the team with 44 blocks. Gonzalez was one of two principal passers for the Beavers, taking over 500 service receptions with only 18 errors.
“If it weren’t for injuries sustained early last fall, there is no doubt that Tati would have put up the numbers to become an All-American,” said Hall. “She was a complete volleyball player, demonstrated by her versatility. She had worked very hard in the spring of 2009 to change her arm swing, and it was set to pay off for her until the injury. She has had some recovery time this spring, and I expect we’ll see her at NAIA Nationals next season. Even with all of her athletic accomplishments, I’m most proud of the fact that Tati graduated with a 3.32 GPA despite coming here less than two years ago speaking very little English. She also passed English Comp II with a B this spring. She’s a pretty remarkable young lady.”
Katerin Trejos was the Beaver player who did earn All-American status and Freshman of the Year in 2008. A two year First Team All-Conference/All-Region player, Trejos led the Beavers both years in hitting. In her first season, when she was the #2 hitter in the nation, Trejos had 605 kills, hitting .308. A severe Achilles injury during the Conference semi-finals put a dent in her training for 2009. Her hitting fell to .242 and 280 kills, but she still led the team. She also led the team with 36 aces, and was second in digs just behind Gonzalez. She passed almost 1,000 serves her freshman year and another 500 her sophomore season. She had fewer than 50 errors in those 1,500 attempts.
“Kate is obviously a mature, accomplished, and talented individual,” said Hall. “We were quite fortunate to have her here, and I know that people in the community will remember her for not only her dynamic play, but also for her very personable disposition off the court. Like Tati, Kate came here with limited English skills, but graduated in two years. She was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa. She will be a tremendous asset to the Wayland Baptist University team and community.”
“I also want to take a minute to thank our host families: the Kolms, the Gilligs, the Staats, the Swanepoels, the McDermeits, and the Troyers. These families opened their hearts and homes to our international players and provided the best possible exposure to American culture. In the end, the greatest value to all is in the enduring friendships that we’ve all built. By all accounts, it seems to have been a great success,” Hall said.
