For More Information
John Hunter, coach (620) 792-9374
Mike Marzolf, SID, (620) 792-9310
marzolfm@bartonccc.edu

Those same 3 Cougars appear on the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American team as well. Again, Ferreira and Caten were 1st team selections while Salzano was a 2nd team pick. The AVCA also honored Barton County Coach John Hunter as its Coach-of-the-Year.

The Cougars captured their 1st NJCAA National Championship this season, going 34-1 during the year. Barton defeated Southwest Missouri State-West Plains in the title match in 3 games on the Grizzlies home court to win the title.

Ferreira, an AVCA player-of-the-year candidate that finished behind Nevena Siljegovic of Moorpark College in California, led the Cougars with an average of 3.6 kills per game. Her hitting percentage was near 57 percent on the year. The freshman from Brazil averaged nearly 1 block per game as well. She was also selected as the MVP of the NJCAA National Tournament.

Caten was a 2nd team All-American selection by both the NJCAA and AVCA last season as a freshman for the Cougars before moving up to 1st team honors this season. She was close behind Ferreira in kills this season from her hitter position, averaging 3.4 kills per contest. Caten led the Cougars in digs this season recording more than 30 digs for the Cougars. She was selected to the NJCAA All-Tournament team this year as well.

Livia Salzano, another freshman, was picked as a 2nd team selection, giving the Cougars 3 players recognized by as All-Americans for the 1st time in Barton County history. Salzano, an NJCAA player-of-the-week this season following Barton’s win over Miami-Dade, led the Cougars in assists from her setter spot. Salzano recorded nearly 11 assists per contest and was instrumental in setting up the offense. Salzano also averaged nearly 1 kill per game from her setter position and was 3rd in aces at 0.4 per contest.

Coach Hunter earned his 1st AVCA National Coach of the Year honor in guiding the Cougars to the 34-1 and the NJCAA National Championship. The Cougars lost a scant 6 games this season in the 95 the Cougars played. Barton won all 9 games in the 3 matches at the Region VI tournament and was a perfect 12-0 on the NJCAA Championships in the 4 matches the Cougars won there. In fact, Barton won its final 48 games it played this year.

Coach John Hunter comments
On Raquel Ferreira – Raquel is probably the most complete player we have ever had at Barton. She made big plays for us all year and was the catalyst for our team when things weren't going well. Raquel has the heart of a champion and is very deserving of all the awards she has won this year.

On Paula Caten – Paula is one of the most respected hitters in the country and if people knew the kind of person she is, she would be one of the most respected young people in the country as well. She has always performed well in big matches for us and has worked incredibly hard in her time here at Barton. I am very proud of her and know her best volleyball is ahead of her.

On Livia Salzano – Livia is, without question, the best setter junior college setter in the country. There is a chance she is the best freshman setter in the country at any level. She absolutely hates to lose and is able to do things most others cannot even imagine. We would never have won the national championship without her.

On being named Coach-of-the-Year – There is an old expression that says, 'If you see a turtle up on a fence post, you can be pretty sure somebody helped put him there.' I certainly feel that way about this award. It is a great honor and I am thankful for all the people who made it possible.

NJCAA All-American Volleyball Team
1st Team
Aida Antanaviciute, 6-0, Soph, Outside Hitter, Jefferson College (Mo)
IsabellaCamargo, 5-9, Frosh, Outside Hitter, Dodge City
Paula Caten, 6-3, Soph, Outside Hitter, Barton County
Raquel Ferreira, 6-0, Frosh, Outside Hitter, Barton County
Ludmila Francescatto, 5-11, Frosh, Outside Hitter, Arizona Western
Chelsea Johnson, 5-7, Soph, Setter, Blinn College (Texas)
Madelaynne Montano, 6-2, Soph, Outside Hitter, Miami-Dade (Fla)
Roselidah Obunaga, 5-11, Soph, Middle Hitter, SMS-West Plains (Mo)
Lulia Porumbescu, 5-10, Soph, Outside Hitter, Lee College (Texas)
Agata Rezende, 5-2, Soph, Outside Hitter, Western Nebraska
Andreza Santos, 6-1, Soph, Outside Hitter, College of Southern Idaho
Emilia Viera, 6-1, Soph, Outside Hitter, Salt Lake City (Utah)

2nd Team
Kaera Baltrip, 5-11, Soph, Outside Hitter, Seward County
Anna Dmoska, 6-0, Soph, Outside Hitter, SMS-West Plains
Felicia Jones, 5-11, Frosh, Outside Hitter, SMS-West Plains
Kelly Kazmierczak, 5-10, Soph, Outside Hitter, Florida CC
Ananda Lopes, 5-0, Soph, Middle/Outside Hitter, Salt Lake City
Damaria Moreno, 5-10, Soph, Outside Hitter, Miami-Dade
Kristy Mortensen, 5-9, Soph, Setter, Northeastern JC (Colo)
Livia Salzano, 5-8, Frosh, Setter, Barton County
Elaine Santos, 6-2, Frosh, Middle/Outside Hitter, Southern Idaho
Lauren Scannell, 5-8, Soph, Outside Hitter, Southwestern Illinois College
Stephanie Sloan, 5-9, Soph, Outside Hitter, Hutchinson
Lira Xavier, 6-0, Soph, Setter, Lake Land College (Ill)

Honorable Mention
Leah Alexander, 5-8, Frosh, Setter, San Jacinto Central (Texas)
Desiree Batista, 5-10, Soph, Outside Hitter, Frank Phillips (Texas)
Lauren Carter, 6-0, Soph, Setter, Temple College (Texas)
Keila Oliviera, 5-7, Frosh, Setter, Miami-Dade
Kariny Ritter, 6-0, Soph, Middle Hitter, Western Nebraska
Joanna Silva, 5-10, Soph, Outside Hitter, Arkansas-Fort Smith

2003 AVCA Two-Year College All-American Volleyball Team
Coach of the Year – John Hunter, Barton County Community College
Most Valuable Player – Nevena Siljegovic, 5-7, Soph, Setter, Moorpark College (Calif)

1st Team
Jennifer Akinnibosun, 5-10, Soph, Middle Blocker, Cedar Valley College (Texas)
Aida Antanaviciute, 6-0, Soph, Middle Blocker, Jefferson College (Mo)
+Paula Caten, 6-3, Soph, Outside Hitter, Barton County
Raquel Ferriera, 6-0, Frosh, Outside Hitter, Barton County
Ashley Jensen, 6-1, Soph, Middle Blocker, Golden West College (Calif)
Chelsea Johnson, 5-8, Soph, Setter, Blinn College (Texas)
*Madelaynne Montano, 6-2, Soph, Outside Hitter, Miami-Dade Community College (Fla)
*Roselidah Obunaga, 5-10, Soph, Middle Blocker, SMS-West Plains
*Iulia Porumbescu, 5-11, Soph, Outside Hitter, Des Moines Area Community College (Iowa)
Agata Rezende, 6-2, Soph, Right Side Hitter, Western Nebraska Community College
Andreza Santos, 6-1, Soph, Outside Hitter, College of Southern Idaho
Lindsay Schiely, 6-0, Soph, Middle Blocker, Clackamas Community College (Calif)
Cassie Sharp, Soph, Outside Hitter, San Joaquin Delta College (Calif)
Sharisa Shiflet, 5-5, Frosh, Setter, Scottsdale Community College (Ariz)
*Nevena Siljegovic, 5-7, Soph, Setter, Moorpark College (Calif)
Megan Whittenburg, 6-0, Soph, Middle Blocker, Kirkwood Community College (Mo)

2nd Team
Marcia Ankeum, 5-7, Soph, Setter, Bethany Lutheran (Mo)
Kaera Baltrip, 5-9, Soph, Middle/Outside Hitter, Seward County
Lindsey Davies, 5-9, Soph, Middle/Outside Hitter, West Valley College (Calif)
Anna Dmowska, 6-0, Soph, Outside Hitter, SMS-West Plalins (Mo)
Michele Ehrlich, Soph, Setter, Kishwaukee College (Wisc)
Ludmila Francescatto, 5-11, Frosh, Outside Hitter, Arizona Western College
Felicia Jones, 5-11, Frosh, Outside Hitter, SMS-West Plains (Mo)
Kelly Kazmierczak, 5-10, Soph, Outside Hitter, Florida Community College-Jacksonville
Courtenay Kiebert, 5-8, Soph, Setter, Community Colleges of Spokane (Wash)
Katie King, 5-7, Soph, Setter, Irvine Valley College (Calif)
Jessica Liptak, 5-10, Soph, Setter/Outside Hitter, College of DuPage (Ill)
Shannon Milicic, 5-9, Soph, Outside Hitter, Taft College (Calif)
Damaris Moreno, 5-9, Frosh, Outside Hitter, Miami-Dade Community College (Fla)
Livia Salzano, 5-8, Frosh, Setter, Barton County
Eliane Santos, 5-10, Frosh, Middle Blocker, College of Southern Idaho
Lira Xavier, 6-0, Soph, Setter, Lake Land College (Ill)

* - 1st team AVCA selection in 2002
+ - 2nd team AVCA selection in 2002

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