By MIKE MONTFORT
HUTCHINSON, Ks. – Navarro Volleyball recorded its third sweep of the tournament and 25th of the season while winning third place Saturday over neighboring-county rival Trinity Valley at the NJCAA Division I Tournament.
Sophomore All-Tournament outside hitter Kalina Pylinska was a difference maker as coach Ariel Apolinario's seventh-seeded Bulldogs secured their second sweep over TVCC and a split of a four-match series with the Cardinals. Pylinska hit .294 with a team-high 14 kills, plus seven digs and four block assists in the Bulldogs' 34th win in 38 outings this season.
It wasn't the Texas v. Florida championship final all anticipated, but NC's 25-19, 25-16, 25-16 victory over TVCC was sweet. Navarro opened conference with a swift pushbroom against the third-ranked Cardinals and concluded its third-winningest in program history in similar fashion against coach Aleah Hayes' Redbirds.
In fact, the 'Dogs walked off The Sports Arena floor a final time together with a decisive edge in hitting percentage (.309-.125), kills (40-29), block assists (19-6) and service aces (14-1).
Hanna Tylska added seven kills and six digs, plus three service aces that pushed her NJCAA-leading total to 116 and her two-year career mark to 226.
Alessandra Pantoja had a team-high 22 assists, five digs and her 61st ace pf the season.
Alyssa Rojo had a team-high 16 digs and a personal-season high five aces that ran her season total to 45.
SEMIFINALS
(3) Miami Dade Sharks 3, (7) Navarro 1
(21-25, 25-21, 31-29, 25-20)
The Sharks won a slugfest with slight defensive edges in digs (63-47) and block assists (18-14).
In the crucial, extended third game won by MDC, the Sharks hit .400 with 21 kills, while the Bulldogs responded with 19 kills at a .333 clip.
Katielle Alonzo's 17 kills, three digs and four block assists paced MDC to its consecutive win that earned a third meeting with top-ranked Florida SouthWestern State. Estephany Rabit added 13 kills. 3.5 blocks and hit .455 in the match.
Freshman setter Luisa Da Cruz totaled 54 assists, eight digs and three service aces for MDC.
Pylinska logged her 34th career double-double – 19 kills and 10 digs – while Tylska contributed 17 spikes and eight digs as both recorded .229 hitting percentages.
QUARTERFINALS
(7) Navarro 3, (2) Northeastern 0
(25-22. 25-22, 25-13)
Navarro got 15 kills from Tylska and 11 from freshman Khaya Gordon as its took out the second-ranked Plainsmen from Sterling, Col., with a .305 hitting percentage only nine attack errors.
Alivia Sotelo hit three more service aces, running her string to 23 within 11 consecutive matches. She also contributed 12 assists and eight digs.
FIRST-ROUND MATCH
(7) Navarro 3, New Mexico JC 0
(25-18, 25-20, 25-13)
Tylska fashioned her 34th career double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs as Navarro swept NMJC's Thunderbirds for the second time this season.
Pylinska added 10 kills as Navarro hit .341 in the tournament opener and had a 41-25 advantage in kills.
