RCTC Volleyball Wins Region XIIIB Championship with Back-to-Back Sweeps

Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) lived up to their #5 National Ranking in the Region XIIIB Championship, sweeping both Minnesota North College-Rainy River and Ridgewater College in straight sets to claim the title. The Yellowjackets, led by a balanced attack and stifling defense, demonstrated why they are one of the top teams in the country.

Semifinal: RCTC vs. Minnesota North College-Rainy River (October 31, 2025)

In the semifinal matchup held at Anoka-Ramsey, RCTC wasted no time taking control of the match against Minnesota North College-Rainy River. The Yellowjackets cruised to a 3-0 victory with set scores of 25-16, 25-7, and 25-14.

From the opening whistle, RCTC's offense was on point. In the first set, the Jackets tallied 14 kills on 36 attempts, hitting at a .194 clip. While not their most efficient set, their aggressive play kept Rainy River off balance. The second set saw a dramatic improvement, with RCTC hitting an impressive .435, recording 12 kills and only two errors on 23 attempts. The third set was more competitive, but RCTC still controlled the set, to close out the match.

Individually, Lily Holtan led the charge with 12 kills on 25 attempts, hitting .280 and contributing 13 points. Morgan Hansen added 8 kills with a fantastic .357 hitting percentage and 11 total points. Kylie Minnich chipped in 6 kills and 7 digs, while Abby Evans added 6 kills and 6.5 points. Setter Carmen Nerison directed the offense with 29 assists and added 5 service aces, contributing 5.5 points.

Defensively, Jayda Bednarek and Carly Matthees anchored the back row with 10 digs each, while the team combined for 44 digs and 14 block assists. RCTC's serving game was sharp, with 10 aces and only 7 errors, keeping Rainy River on their heels throughout the match.

Championship Match: RCTC vs. Ridgewater College (November 1, 2025)

In the championship match, RCTC elevated their game even further, sweeping Ridgewater College 25-18, 25-10, and 25-13 to secure the Region XIIIB title. The Yellowjackets were firing on all cylinders, hitting .352 as a team and dominating every facet of the game.

The first set saw RCTC record 16 kills on 44 attempts, hitting .273. They improved in the second set with a .400 hitting percentage and 12 kills, and closed out the match with a .412 clip in the third set, tallying another 16 kills.

Lily Holtan continued her productive offensive weekend, leading the team with 14 kills on 28 attempts, hitting a scorching .464 and contributing 16 points. Natalie LaBonte was equally dominant, recording 12 kills on 20 attempts with a .550 hitting percentage and 15 points. Minnich added 6 kills and 11 digs, while Hansen chipped in 6 kills and 6.5 points.

Setter Carmen Nerison was once again the engine behind the offense, dishing out 34 assists. Though she didn't record any aces in this match, her precise setting allowed the offense to hit .352 as a team for the match. Bednarek led the team with 19 digs, showcasing her defensive prowess.

RCTC's serving remained consistent, with 6 aces and only 11 errors. Their blocking was also a key factor, with 2 solo blocks and 6 block assists, effectively neutralizing Ridgewater's attack.

Over the course of the two matches, RCTC outscored their opponents 150-78, never allowing more than 18 points in a single set. Their balanced offense, led by Holtan, LaBonte, and Hansen, combined with Nerison's ability to isolate her hitters setting proved too much for their competition.

With this Region XIIIB Championship victory, The Jackets secured a berth in the NJCAA National Tournament to be held in Cedar Rapids, IA.