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Truckee volleyball: Nikki Schneider receives scholarship to Kishwaukee College

Sylas Wright
Sierra Sun
Sun File photoNikki Schneider huddles with her Truckee team during the 3A State Championship this past November. Schneider will play volleyball in the fall at Kishwaukee College in Illinois.
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Truckee High volleyball standout Nikki Schneider received an athletic scholarship to Kishwaukee College in Malta, Ill.

The 5-foot-10 outside hitter made a verbal commitment and will sign her letter of intent when she arrives on campus July 27, said Ron Sweet, head coach of the Kishwaukee Kougars.

and#8220;She’s a tremendous athlete,and#8221; said Sweet, who flew Schneider out to Illinois this past spring to see her play. and#8220;She’s a very, very good volleyball player, but she’s such a good athlete that we think we can turn her into something really special.and#8221;



Kishwaukee’s volleyball program is a perennial powerhouse among the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II ranks, winning the national championship five of the last eight years and#8212; including the last three in a row and#8212; while regularly producing Division I prospects.

and#8220;We put a pretty good squad together every year,and#8221; said Sweet, whose team finished 56-3 last season. and#8220;In the eight years I’ve been with the program, all of our front-row players have received Division I scholarships to move on and play.



and#8220;So I firmly believe that with a little more training we can get Nikki to the Division I level.and#8221;

Schneider established herself as one of the premier players in the 3A the past two seasons, earning All-State and All-League honors on a talented Truckee team that finished runner-up in the 2007 and and#8216;08 state championships. Her senior year the co-team captain tallied 163 kills and 74 digs in 67 games. She also played varsity as a sophomore.

Schneider played most recently for the Capital City 18 Black club team based out of Carson City. That team and#8212; an all-star group of 2A, 3A and 4A players from Northern Nevada and#8212; is fresh off a 19th-place finish out of 48 teams in the Junior Olympic Volleyball Championships over the Fourth of July holiday.

At 5-10, Schneider’s above-average vertical leap makes up for whatever height she may give up to an opponent on the front row.

and#8220;Her jumping ability is phenomenal. She really gets up well and#8212; and she snaps really well, too,and#8221; Sweet said, referring also to the power with which Schneider strikes the ball.

In addition to her athleticism, Sweet said Schneider left a lasting impression with her positive attitude during her visit.

and#8220;She’s a great kid. I like her a lot,and#8221; Sweet said. and#8220;She’s got a great personality, which is really something I look for in players. I don’t want kids who are just good at volleyball. I want kids who have a passion for the game and are fun to be around.and#8221;

Kishwaukee College is located about 50 miles west of Chicago and 4 miles from Northern Illinois University. Sweet said all his players live in dorms on the campus of Northern Illinois.

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