Story by Brent Cobb, McCook Community College News/Sports Information
McCook Community College sophomore Madison Kleewein (North Platte) has signed a national letter of intent to continue playing volleyball next year at Division II University of Arkansas-Monticello.
“Arkansas-Monticello really likes the kids out of McCook and they were real interested in Maddie and she still has three years of eligibility left, and she’s graduating early,” MCC Coach Hayley Kobza said. “She still has a lot of volleyball left ahead of her and they are excited to get her on the court in January.”
Kleewein becomes the third former Lady Indian to play in Monticello. Jessica Mahan, a defensive specialist (Colorado Springs) was a senior this season and was joined last season by outside hitter Megan Orth (Peyton, Colo.).
Playing middle blocker and right-side hitter this season, Kleewein played in 29 matches and compiled 75 kills in 251 total attacks, averaging 1.09 kills per set. She also had 20 total blocks and 29 digs. She expects she will be a right-side hitter at UAM.
Her favorite moments from this past season -- where the Lady Indians went 25-12 and won the school’s second straight Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference championship – included a season high 11-kill (.409 hitting, match against Central Community College and also the Halloween-night win in Scottsbluff over No. 17 Western Nebraska, which snapped a 58-match losing stream to the Cougars dating back to 1994.
UAM competes within the Great American Conference (GAC) for ten sports. This past season the Cotton Blossoms went 11-18.
“Their coach reminds me of Coach Kobza plus they have a great nursing program,” said Kleewein. “Their campus and people were so welcoming, it reminded me a lot of McCook.”
She said her favorite memories from MCC include dancing on the bus trips and just hanging out with teammates in Brooks Hall.
“I’m real excited that Maddie found this opportunity right away – especially since she will be finished up here in two weeks,” MCC Coach Hayley Kobza said.
“Maddie’s been a great leader and a phenomenal sophomore to have,” Kobza said. The coach expects her other three sophomores to find four-year schools as well. Those players include Kiera Barr, Mallory Brown and Bailey Honn.
“That’s the ultimate goal for me and my program is to get my sophomores on to the next level,” Kobza said