Women's Basketball Ranked Ninth in KJCCC Preseason Poll

COLBY, Kan. — The Colby Community College women's basketball team enters the 2025-26 season tied for ninth in the KJCCC preseason poll, released Thursday (Oct. 23). Coming off a 16-16 overall record and a 10-14 mark in conference play, the Trojans aim to build on last year's Region VI Tournament quarterfinal appearance and make an even deeper postseason run this season under third-year head coach Darin Spence. 

Spence, who was appointed in May 2023, brings more than three decades of collegiate head coaching experience across NCAA Division I and II, NAIA, and NJCAA programs. His leadership has helped elevate Colby's competitiveness within one of the toughest conferences in the nation.

Leading the Trojans is sophomore Dessirae Ulmer, who earned All-KJCCC Honorable Mention honors as a freshman. Ulmer established herself as a force on both ends of the floor last season, shooting 48.4 percent from the field while totaling 297 points and averaging 7.3 rebounds per game. 

The Trojans also return a core group of sophomores ready to play larger roles. Jera Kruleski emerged as one of the league's most consistent perimeter shooters, connecting on 59 three-pointers and scoring 282 total points while shooting 31.9 percent from long range. Easha Potts, a Dodge City native, was another key contributor, starting 23 games and averaging 5.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor. Piri Lewis provides additional playmaking ability after averaging 2.2 assists per game, while Adrian Neal and Emme Ratliff return with experience from last years Trojans.

Adding to the depth are international transfers Amisha Russell from Australia and Elia Ando from England, who are expected to bolster Colby's inside presence. The Trojans' roster also features an exciting class of newcomers, Logan Nolan, Olivia Hultgren, Samantha Medina, Paishintz Booker, Jazeya Garramone, and Regina Pasti.

After winning a share of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) Division I Women's Basketball regular season title and the NJCAA Region 6 Tournament crown last year, Dodge City Community College has been selected as the favorite to win the 2025-26 KJCCC D1 Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish poll. In a tightly contested preseason vote that saw first-place votes split among the league's top six teams, Dodge City edged out Hutchinson for the top spot with 153 total points and three first-place votes, while the Blue Dragons followed closely with 149 points and three first-place votes of their own. Coffeyville placed third with 143 points and three first-place votes after posting a 26-6 record last season and falling to Dodge City in the Region 6 title game.

The Trojans will officially open the 2025-26 season at home on Saturday (Nov. 1) when they host Sterling JV in their first regular-season matchup of the year.