Daniel named NTJCAC Player of the Year
Hayley Daniel was a legitimate college volleyball player before she ever stepped onto the hardwood in the Ranger College gymnasium. Once on the Ron Butler Court, however, she became even better.
Daniel capped a memorable sophomore season recently when she was named the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference's 2018 Player of the Year. All the RC standout did was lead the conference in almost every statistical category en route to guiding the Lady Rangers to a record 23 wins and a third-place finish at the NTJCAC regional tournament.
A transfer from Navarro College, Daniel blossomed into one of the nation's top spikers at RC. This season, she was one of the most dominant hitters in the country. For the season, she pounded out a team-high 418 kills and led the conference in points scored with 463.5. She also starred defensively with 481 digs
Daniel wasn't the only Ranger College star earning high praise from the NTJCAC coaches. Sophomore Darby Hughes was named the defensive player of the year for the second consecutive season. Hughes, a native of Franklin, Texas, led all NTJCAC defenders this season with 659 digs.
The college's all-time leader in digs, Hughes finishes her two-year career at RC with 1,075 digs.
Daniel and Hughes were among four players honored with superlative awards following the regional tournament which was held on Nov. 2-3 at Cedar Valley College in Lancaster, Texas. Hill's Alyssa Meyer was tabbed the conference's offensive player of the year, while North Central Texas College's Allie Hamsher netted the newcomer of the year accolades.
Hannah Brink and Briana Maxwell added to the Lady Rangers' postseason success by being selected to the NTJCAC first-team all-conference roster. Brink, who joined Daniel in transferring from Navarro to Ranger College in the offseason, was among the top middle hitters this season. She finished her season with 35 blocked shots, a total that ranked her among the conference's top net defenders.
Overall, she was the team's second-leading point scorer, netting 331.5 points.
Like Hughes, Maxwell etched her name deep into the RC record books this season. As a sophomore, she posted a school record 850 assists while also contributing 290 digs.
A two-time all-conference selection, Maxwell finished her career at Ranger College as the team's all-time leader in assists with 1,540.
Smith was also honored by the conference's coaches. She was named the 2018 NTJCAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season. In her three seasons at the helm of the Lady Rangers' program, she has guided the team to more than 45 victories and back-to-back appearances in the regional tournament.
2018 NTJCAC Volleyball Awards
Most Valuable Player: Hayley Daniel, Ranger College
Offensive Player of the Year: Alyssa Meyer, Hill College
Defensive Player of the Year: Darby Hughes, Ranger College
Newcomer of the Year: Allie Hamsher, North Central Texas College
Coach of the Year: Nicole Smith, Ranger College
1st Team All-Conference/ All-Region: (includes players listed above)
Jocelyn Grewing, NCTC
Breonna Fleming, Temple College
Morgan Burns, Hill College
Hannah Brink, Ranger College
Madison Scott, Cisco College
Jasmine Sims, Hill College
Bailey Barnhill, Hill College
Briana Maxwell, Ranger College
Jasmine Jacinto, Vernon College
2nd Team All-Conference:
Veronika Webb, NCTC
Meredith McPeek, NCTC
Gretchen Zedik, Cisco College
Teranne Shepard, Cisco College
Taylor Rupp, Cisco College
Chloe Darilek, Temple College
Imana Ellis, Temple College
Sawyer Siemens, Hill College
Alyssa Parks, Hill College
Ashlyn Bradley, Vernon College
Shykerra Fanner, Vernon College
Keeley Johnston, Vernon College
All-Tournament Team
MVP – Jasmine Sims, Hill College
Bailey Barnhill, Hill College
Morgan Burns, Hill College
Allie Hamsher, NCTC
Veronika Webb, NCTC
Darby Hughes, Ranger College
Alexandria Castillo, Temple College