NJCAA Semifinal Recap: Rochester vs. Dallas College Eastfield
November 14, 2025 – Cedar Rapids, IA (Alliant Energy Powerhouse)

Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) battled hard in the NJCAA Division III semifinal but fell to top-ranked Dallas College Eastfield in four sets (18-25, 13-25, 25-23, 19-25). The Yellowjackets head to the third place match at 24-9 after a gritty performance against a powerhouse opponent now 30-1.

Set 1:
Eastfield came out firing, hitting an impressive .366 with 18 kills and just three errors. RCTC managed 12 kills but committed six errors, finishing at .143. Despite strong swings from Natalie LaBonte, who would later lead all Yellowjackets with 16 kills, Eastfield's balanced attack and defensive coverage gave them a 25-18 win.

Set 2:
Momentum stayed with Eastfield as they dominated 25-13. RCTC struggled offensively, hitting -.034 with only four kills and five errors. Eastfield's duo of Mia Santos and Myah Griggs combined for 13 kills in the set, pushing their team to a commanding 2-0 lead.

Set 3:
The Yellowjackets showed resilience in the third set, pulling off a 25-23 victory. LaBonte was unstoppable, hitting .625 for the match and adding key points late. Lily Holtan chipped in with nine kills overall, while Kylie Minnich added eight. RCTC improved to .190 hitting efficiency in the set, while Eastfield cooled slightly to .226. Defensive adjustments and timely digs from Jayda Bednarek (23 digs) helped RCTC extend the match.

Set 4:
Eastfield regrouped and closed the match 25-19. Santos continued her dominance, finishing with a match-high 24 kills and .270 hitting percentage, while Griggs added 20 kills at a stellar .459 clip. RCTC fought hard, but 12 kills and six errors (.158) weren't enough to overcome Eastfield's depth and consistency.

Match Leaders:

• RCTC: Natalie LaBonte (16 kills, .625, 18 points), Lily Holtan (9 kills, 11 points), Kylie Minnich (8 kills). Setter Carmen Nerison dished out 41 assists, and Bednarek anchored the defense with 23 digs.
• Eastfield: Mia Santos (24 kills, 27.5 points), Myah Griggs (20 kills, 21.5 points), Madison Mosley (13 kills). Setter Mylah Arzaga tallied 35 assists, and libero Patience Gibson led with 32 digs.

Team Stats:
Eastfield hit .286 overall with 69 kills, while RCTC posted .132 with 44 kills. Service pressure was nearly even (Eastfield 4 aces, RCTC 6), but Eastfield's blocking edge (14 block assists) and offensive firepower proved decisive.

The Jackets will next face the College of DuPage for the third place trophy.  RCTC and COD played on the opening weekend of the season with RCTC winning a thriller 3-2.