She also can’t wait to see how her team will fare this weekend when the Cougars open the 2009 season on the road at the Iowa Western Invite in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Friday and Saturday.
Melo, who guided the Cougars to a 59-4 and a third place finish at the NJCAA national tournament last year,does know that her team is anxious to get on the court and play some nationally-ranked competition.
“I hope we are ready,’ Melo said. “I think we have been working hard for the past couple of weeks, playing scrimmages and playing each other, so I think they are excited to just get on the road and see where we are at playing against nationally-ranked teams.”
The No. 2 preseason-ranked Cougars enter will open the invitational Friday at noon against Marshalltown Community College and then face No. 3 MSU-West Plains at 4 p.m. Saturday’s competition will see the Cougars face No. 6 Iowa Western Community College at 8 a.m. and then No. 5 Division II-ranked Des Moines Area Community College at 2 p.m.
Melo said playing that type of competition will be good for the team. Last year at the same tournament, the Cougars went 8-0 against nationally-ranked teams, including topping Division II national champions Kishwaukee College.
“I think it will be a good start for us to see where we are,” she said. “I think it is important for us to play against really good teams right away just because we can see the things we need to work on or the things that we are doing well at.”
WNCC enters the season with plenty of talent. The Cougars return six players, including four starters, from last year’s team.
Leading the returners include NJCAA all-American Kaleinani Kabalis, 5-9 hitter from Hilo, Hawaii. Other returning starters include 6-foot twins Sabina and Paulina Piegza of Krzesowice, Poland, as well as Cami Weimer, 5-8 hitter from Ft. Morgan, Colo.
Also returning are Gering High graduates Brooke Blomenkamp, 5-9 rightside hitter, and Whitney Roth, 6-0 middle hitter.
The Cougars also have a strong freshmen class, including Kabalis’ younger sister Kuulei. Kuulei is a 5-6 setter/defensive specialist from Hawaii. Also new to the team include Ariel Austin, 5-11 hitter from Woodland Park, Colo., Kathryn Stock, 6-0 hitter from Thibodaux, La., Sierra Schmidt, 5-6 setter from Gering, Tania Torres, 6-1 middle hitter from Camuy, Puerto Rico, Mackenzie Westphal, 5-10 hitter from Scottsbluff, and Emily Hoehn, 5-6 defensive specialist from Kearney.
“I think we have a lot of individual talent; we just need to start playing as a team and we are starting to get that. I am excited about that part because we have to play as a team at all times. We just need to get better slowly.
Melo said the sophomores are stepping up and taking a leadership role, something that will be crucial to the success of the team this season.
“I have been talking to them about stepping up and I think some of them are doing a really good job on leading this team,” Melo said. “The freshmen coming in, some of them started really shy in getting to know everything. Now, they have come out and they are that more comfortable to see where we are and what this program is all about. Many of them freshmen have stepped up a little bit, so I think this is a team of everybody stepping up a little bit. That is what it will take to win.”
After this weekend’s contest, the Cougars will have little time to rest before another stiff test at the Salt Lake Invite Sept. 4-5. The Cougars have won the Salt Lake tournament that past three years. Melo said this team is ready to take on the competition.
“I really don’t think there are any nerves, but more or less excitement to get started,” she said. “Obviously, we have a little bit of pressure. But I think it is good for them to feel the pressure. It is the first tournament of the season, so it is OK to be nervous. This team is just excited. They have been playing hard and practicing hard this week. They are ready.”
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