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'The week was like a movie'

In the entirety of their high school volleyball careers, Kadyn Mehring of Carrington and Megan Moser of Medina never so much as played in a state Class B tournament.

They certainly made up for that shortfall when they went to the collegiate level and suited up for the University of Jamestown program.

Four years later for Mehring and two for Moser, the pair are basking in the glory of the Jimmies' first-ever National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national championship team victory.

"This week was like a movie," Mehring posted on Facebook on December 12 in a post featuring photos of the celebration aftermath in Sioux City, Iowa, the NAIA tournament site, on December 7.

Both Mehring and Moser know the significance of the Jimmies' accomplishment, having played their part in bringing home the big red banner.

"It feels surreal, as we're the first national champions in program and school history," said Mehring. "We're so thankful to play in a program that's able to compete at a high level. Not only that, we were a part of something bigger than just volleyball. We were playing to inspire the people around us every time we stepped on that court."

Moser explained that this year's team didn't have the lofty expectations of recent Jimmie net squads, and that they expected to take their lumps early and hopefully make the top four or five in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) table.

"This team brought a different dynamic this season, as we learned to play free and have fun," said Moser. "Not having many returners, we didn't expect this season to go as it did, but we'll never take it for granted."

She added that this year's team had some adversity to pull through, including spending 10 days in Montana following a bus breakdown without air conditioning, and a tragedy that caused the Jimmie family to become closer.

"We ended the season with another 10-day trip, where we were able to accomplish our dream of becoming national champions," said Moser.

How they got there

Their postseason journey started on November 5, when they began their three-match run to the GPAC championship with a 3-0 win over Dordt (Iowa) College. That was followed up by a three-set victory against Dakota Wesleyan on November 9, and they took the GPAC crown on November 12 with a 3-1 triumph against Concordia (Neb.) All matches were played at the U of J's Harold Newman Arena.

It took one more win to advance to Sioux City, however, and the Jimmies were up to the task. Once again at the Newman, the U of J took a quick 3-0 sweep over St. Ambrose (Iowa) on November 19 in the NAIA opening round match.

At the national tourney, the Jimmies were one of 24 teams vying for the coveted national championship, and entered the tourney as the number two overall seed behind the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers.

They started pool play in Pool B with a 3-0 win over Rocky Mountain College of Billings, Mont., and also swept the College of Saint Mary (Omaha, Neb.) to win the pool.

Now in the quarterfinals, the Jimmies faced NAIA powerhouse Columbia College (Mo.), the four-time national champs in the sport. That history didn't faze the Jimmies, as they took three straight sets over the Cougars (25-10, 25-18, 25-17) to reach the final four.

Historically, the semifinal round has been the one that has tripped up U of J, and GPAC rival, third seed and at-large entrant Midland (Fremont, Neb.) stood in the way of their first title match berth.

In an epic battle, the Jimmies won a furious back-and-forth tussle with the Warriors, 26-24, 15-25, 25-10, 18-25 and 15-12, to reach where no Jimmie program had advanced before.

For all the marbles, the Jimmies stood face to face with Corban University of Salem, Ore. Fourth-seeded Corban, also known as the Warriors, upset top seed Eastern Oregon in the other semifinal in four sets to reach their own date with destiny.

With the eyes of south-central North Dakota and the region watching, the Jimmies reached the summit with a nervewracking 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 25-27, 25-22, 15-13) to earn the school's first championship in almost 130 years of existence and complete a sparkling 37-2 season.

In the championship match, Moser, playing as a defensive specialist, hit the Jimmies' only ace, and also recorded a dig.

In NAIA postseason honors, 14th-year Head Coach Jon Hegerle was named National Coach of the Year, and his daughter, Kalli, earned Player of the Year honors. Ellie Holen of the Jimmies was selected as the NAIA Defender of the Year.

The Jimmies became the second NAIA school in North Dakota to win a national title in the sport, as Dickinson State was the 2000 champion.

"There's going to be no season like this one," said Mehring. "The memories made with this team will hold a special place in our hearts forever."

A small-town makeup

A selling point for the Jimmie program for prospective volleyball recruits in North Dakota is their willingness to take on the teeming pool of Class B talent who wish to prove themselves at the next level, and put them in key spots to succeed.

Along with Mehring and Moser, the Holen sisters, Anna (senior year of eligibility) and Ellie (junior), hail from LaMoure, and played a big part in the L-L-M Loboes' reign as the three-time state champions from 2015 to 2017. Another small-towner, sophomore Lexi Olson from Langdon, played on the 2019 champion L/E/M Cardinal team.

Moser says there's just something about the small-town rivalries that serves them well at the net, and the camaraderie and friendships built from those experiences.

"All coming from Class B schools, we know how much of a challenge and work ethic it takes to succeed," she said. "As individuals, we brought that mindset to putting in that extra work.

Moser added, "[Coach Hegerle] always refers to us as a bunch of 'schmucks' for our combined love and dream for the game. Who would have thought high school rivals would later become teammates, best friends, and champions?"

Following their heroics, the women received a police escort to the U of J campus, and were received with enthusiasm in the Newman entryway.

"The night we got back, there was a men's and women's basketball doubleheader, and they introduced all the women's sporting teams at halftime as part of the 50-year anniversary of Title IX which brought women's sports to the university," said Mehring.

The team walked out with their champion's banner and trophy to a thunderous ovation, and a small social was held in their honor afterwards.

In January, the team will be honored once again at a banquet to celebrate the Jimmies' championship.

Kadyn is the daughter of Scott and Shannon Mehring of Carrington, and Megan the daughter of Scott and Angela Moser of Medina.

Mehring plans to student teach in third grade at Carrington Elementary this spring, and Moser's plans are identical but for the fact she plans to do it the following year.

Past local Jimmies' thoughts

Two other former Jimmie players and local net stars watched this year's proceedings with interest.

Another player with area ties, Pingree's Jordan Thomas, has cherished what her Jimmie sisters have accomplished.

"We went to the final four my senior year, and it was a bittersweet moment for me," said Thomas. "I was cheering from my apartment as if I was actually there. When we went up for that block on the final point and the ball hit the floor, my eyes filled with tears and my cheeks actually started to hurt from smiling so much!"

Thomas is currently pursuing her doctorate degree with the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in Elkins Park, Pa., and is slated to graduate in 2025.

"I know how much work goes in outside of the games with practices, lifts, team meetings, and the mental side of it," she said. "It feels good seeing a program that has been working so hard finally reach the peak of the mountain."

Taylor Sabinash of Kensal played for the U of J program until 2021, and just graduated with a degree in mortuary science from John A. Gupton College in Nashville, Tenn.

While Sabinash did not get back to the Independent with her thoughts in time for publication, she congratulates the Jimmies on their tremendous achievement.

(Editor's Note: Sabinash did respond to the Independent's request for comments, but they came after the issue had already gone to press. They are printed here, in full:

"Playing volleyball at the University of Jamestown will always be a highlight of my life. There aren't many things that can top being a part of something so special. To have a program and a team so unique requires work, which has never been lacking from this team.

I won't lie, this year was difficult for me to watch from my laptop and not be in the middle of the action. The bond between the girls create lifelong friendships and great memories. It's hard not to be surrounded by the fun atmosphere where laughs are contagious.

Watching the girls get to the championship, and then win it, was so thrilling! I imagine most alumni feel that sense of relief; they did it. They achieved the goal that everyone has worked so hard to reach. Every girl who pushed their teammate next to them to get to that next level, won that national championship. All the summer open gyms, missed family events, the blood, sweat, and tears. It was all worth it. I am so happy and proud of the girls, and I can't thank them enough for the work they put in to become national champions.")