Three Bears Earn MCCC Recognition

Over the weekend, the season concluding Midwest Christian College Conference soccer and volleyball tournaments were held, soccer in Belton, Mo. and volleyball in Ankeny, Iowa. In the midst of the festivities, the MCCC recognized this years all-conference performers. Among the winners were Barclay College’s freshman Allyssa Swonger (Pratt, Kans.), sophomore Justin Calicchia (Montreal, Canada) and junior Brenton Newby (Wichita, Kans.).

Swonger was named to the MCCC volleyball second team following a regular season in which she was in the top ten in the conference in both kills and blocking. She helped power a young Bears squad to a 5-5 record during the regular season.

On the soccer side, Calicchia and Newby were both named to the MCCC first team. The versatile Calicchia was a goal scoring leader for the Bears, but also spent some games helping control the back line. Newby, on the other hand, was one of the few returners from last years national tournament squad. He emerged this year as one of the more tenacious defenders on the Bears roster. His physicality, mixed with his advanced ball skills, made him irreplaceable.

Both soccer and volleyball begin their run for a national championship on Friday, October 30 in Dallas, Texas. Dallas Christian is hosting this years four team Southwest Region double elimination volleyball tournament and three team single elimination soccer tournament.