By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---Niki Polce, a 5'4" libero from New Boston Huron High School, has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at Owens Community College next year.
With the return of National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American Brooke Gyori (Clay/Oregon, Ohio), head coach Sonny Lewis is excited about the defensive ability the duo will provide.
"We are excited about the addition of Niki," Lewis said. "She is an outstanding defensive player that brings us another player who not only plays great defense but is a great serve receiver. With Niki and Brooke in the lineup, not many balls will hit the floor."
The New Boston native, who graduated from Huron in 2015 and originally signed with NCAA Division I Oakland University before taking the year off, was a decorated high school player who was recruited by schools such as BGSU, Michigan State, Dayton, Coastal Carolina, Houston and Eastern Michigan.
While at Huron, Polce was a four-year letter winner, a three-year captain and a two-time team MVP. Furthermore, she was a two-time All-Michigan, three-time All-Region, three-time All-Huron League and three-time All-Downriver Dream Team selection. She twice earned the Monroe News Athlete of the Week award.
Additional awards for Polce included: Monroe County All-Star, PrepVolleyball.com defensive dandy and defensive dandy lion, PrepVolleyball.com top 79 sophomore list, AVCA top 100, AVCA Under Armour Watch List and two-time HP Lakeshore Region High Performance team member. She played at the club level for First Attack, Michigan Elite, Legacy and Team-Detroit.
Away from the court, she was also the 2011 U16 Regional and State champion in the Punt, Pass and Kick competition, and she letter in basketball and tennis.
Polce will join an impressive recruiting class for the Owens volleyball program that already includes Devon Heitkamp, a 6'1" MB from New Bremen High School in New Bremen, Ohio; Erika Angstmann, a 6'1" MB/OH from St. Mary's Memorial High School in St. Mary's, Ohio; Olivia Hermiller, a 6'0" RS from Ottawa-Glandorf High School in Ottawa, Ohio; Carrigan Gray, a 5'8" setter from Liberty-Benton High School in Findlay, Ohio; and Madison Lammers, a 5'9" OH from New Knoxville High School in New Knoxville, Ohio.
Notes
The Owens Community College women's volleyball program competes at the national level every year. Head coach Sonny Lewis will enter his 16th year in charge this coming fall, and he has never had a losing season, while accumulating a 544-184 overall record and a 176-14 record in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play.
In 2015, Lewis led the team to a 40-7 overall record, including an OCCAC championship, a Region XII tournament championship and a ninth place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament. The team recorded an 18 match win streak at one point that featured just six set losses over that stretch. Following the season, Lewis was named the OCCAC and Region XII Coach of the Year. It was his eighth conference coach of the year selection.
Following the season, four of the team's sophomores signed with four-year schools including Macy Reigelsperger (Coldwater/Coldwater, Ohio), who will play at NCAA Division I University of Tennessee - Martin; Erika Hartings (Coldwater/Coldwater, Ohio), who will play at NCAA Division II Francis Marion University; Taylor Purcell (Bedford/Temperance, Mich.), who will play at NAIA Madonna University; and Deanna Smith (Riverview/Riverview, Mich.), who will play at NAIA Shawnee State University.
Since the volleyball program began in 1994, Owens has captured 14 conference championships and nine Region XII championships. They have finished top five in the nation five times at the NJCAA National Tournament.