Sophomore Jadelyn Rohach (Toledo, IA/South Tama) has signed her National Letter of Intent to play volleyball for the Ottawa University Braves. Rohach will begin her career at Ottawa in the fall of 2015.
Rohach was a member of the 2014 MCC volleyball team after transferring in from Clarke University. Rohach played in 13 matches before suffering a season-ending injury. Prior to the injury, Rohach was one of the most consistent and impactful players on the Tiger roster.
A force at the net, Rohach recorded 113 kills, averaging 2.4 per set. Before the injury, Rohach led the Tigers in total blocks with 46. The sophomore posted a .250 hitting percentage at the net.
"I really liked the volleyball girls and coach Melissa (Blessington)," Rohach stated regarding her decision to attend the NAIA institution in Ottawa, KS. "They made me feel welcome. I also liked that the campus is smaller."
Rohach believes that her injury has only made her a better player. "I have to admit, the injury was not fun. However, I feel like it made me more motivated. I work out a lot more so I can come back stronger. My rehab went very well thanks to my physical therapist."
Despite just one year at MCC, Rohach saw her time as a Tiger as a valuable experience. "I really liked MCC, and especially the volleyball team. We were a fun, close team. Even though we didn't get the season we had hoped for, I'm glad I came to play here. I got to meet such great players and play for great coaches. It was a great experience."
MCC head coach Chris Brees sees a bright future for Rohach after catching just a glimpse of her ability on the court. "Jade is going to do great things at Ottawa. Coach Blessington was a former player of mine, so we have similar styles, which will make it easy for Jade to step in."
"Jade has a great future ahead of her," Brees added. "It was just too bad we weren't able to have her the entire season, but I think she has learned a lot through the adversity. She will be a fun player to watch in the future."
The Braves are members of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference(KCAC). Ottawa finished third in the conference standings in 2014 with a 15-3 record and reached the KCAC championship game. The Braves posted an overall mark of 24-12 on the year.
