COLBY, Kan. – Ranked Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference volleyball teams Colby Community College and Barton Community College have swept the season’s first KJCCC Division 1 Volleyball Player of the Week awards after Trojan players Ella Dridi and Anita Ferri, along with Barton’s Natalia Malinowska-Nowak all earned the first weekly honors.
Ella Dridi (Colby) – KJCCC D1 Volleyball Player of the Week
Dridi led Colby to a 3-1 weekend, opening the 2026 season at the Midland College Classic. Recording double-doubles in all four matches, the sophomore finished the weekend with 64 kills, 55 digs, and four total blocks. Across 15 sets, Dridi averaged 4.27 kills per set and had a .290 attack percentage, finishing with at least 14 kills in every match.
Natalia Malinowska-Nowak (Barton) – KJCCC D1 Volleyball Setter of the Week
Natalia Malinowska-Nowak made an immediate impact in her Barton debut, directing the 13th-ranked Cougars to a perfect weekend that included three victories over ranked opponents. Malinowska-Nowak distributed 114 assists across 15 sets while leading the team with 45 digs and adding six service aces. Running Barton’s 5-1 offense Friday, Malinowska-Nowak dished out 43 assists against number six Odessa before recording 44 assists, 10 digs, and three aces against number 10 Eastern Arizona. Transitioning to shared setting duties in a 6-2 offense Saturday, Malinowska-Nowak added double-doubles of 15 assists and 15 digs against D2 number six Mesa before closing the weekend with 12 assists and 12 digs against Tyler, finishing her debut weekend with three double-doubles.
Anita Ferri (Colby) – KJCCC D1 Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Ferri anchored Colby’s defense throughout the opening weekend of the 2026 season, helping the Trojans go 3-1 at the Midland College Classic. Across four matches, Ferri tallied 71 digs and had a .934 receive percentage on 61 total reception attempts. Ferri’s biggest match came during the final match of the weekend, averaging 7.33 digs per set after finishing with 22 in a three-set win over Hill College.
Other Offensive Players Nominated:
Caroliny Cristiny – Barton
Harlee Randall – Butler
Samira Bousri – Cloud County
Giovanna Monteiro – Hutchinson
Luisa Berganitini – Seward County
Other Setters Nominated:
Georgia Cameron – Butler
Giulla Todesco – Cloud County
Priscilla Salas Moreno – Colby
Nóra Lehel – Seward County
Other Defensive Players Nominated:
Zuzanna Zalewska – Butler
Brooke Lougheed – Cloud County
Clara Oliveira – Hutchinson
