McLennan Players Earn NTJCAC Volleyball Honors
Brooke Rimlinger, Kera Kaluza and Jayla Lee headline McLennan Community College's conference awards as the Lady Highlanders prepare for Region V play.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Volleyball
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The Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference announced its postseason volleyball honors Thursday morning, naming Brooke Rimlinger Offensive Player of the Year and Kera Kaluza Defensive Player of the Year. McLennan Community College finished second in the conference with a 15-3 record and opens Region V Tournament play against Odessa College in Odessa on Thursday afternoon.
Why it matters
The honors recognize individual performances that drove McLennan to a second-place conference finish and a 19-12 overall season. The Region V matchup against 19th-ranked Odessa College sets the next test for the program.
Official conference statistics show Rimlinger recorded 375 kills and a .296 hitting percentage over 18 matches, while Kaluza averaged 20.8 digs per match across 375 total digs. Lee's hitting percentage was .165 over the five matches she played less than full conference schedule, and the awards do not address her full-season totals.
The players
McLennan Community College
A public two-year college in Waco, Texas, whose volleyball program competes in the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference.
Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference
The athletic conference governing junior college sports among member schools in North Texas, which issued the postseason volleyball honors.
Odessa College
A public two-year college in Odessa, Texas, ranked 19th and hosting the Region V quarterfinal against McLennan.
The details
Rimlinger, Kaluza and Lee earned first-team All-Conference and All-Region honors, while Gilliland was named to the second team after leading the conference in assists with 406 across 17 matches. Lee missed five conference matches during the season.
Timeline
Thursday morning: NTJCAC announces postseason volleyball honors.
Thursday afternoon: MCC opens Region V Tournament play against Odessa College in Odessa.
Season Trajectory
The NTJCAC awards arrive as McLennan moves from a second-place conference finish into Region V tournament play, where a win would extend the team's season. Individual awards for hitters, defenders and setters often reflect how a team's roster carried its postseason position.
A win over Odessa College on Thursday would advance McLennan deeper into the Region V bracket, where a playoff run determines postseason standing. Fans following the program can track the Lady Highlanders' tournament progress through the conference and regional schedule.
The takeaway
The honors highlight how individual statistical leaders carried McLennan to a 15-3 conference record heading into postseason play. Readers following the team can watch the Thursday Region V matchup for the next indication of the season's direction.
What happens next
McLennan Community College opens Region V Tournament play against Odessa College in Odessa on Thursday afternoon.
Further reading
For more on the program's season, explore Volleyball coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Waco Tribune-Herald.
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