The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team, fresh off its NJCAA national championship, landed two players on the National Junior College Athletic Association all-American teams that were released this morning.
Fernanda Goncalves, a 5-foot-9 freshman setter who was named the national tournament Most Valuable Player, earned first team honors, while Debora Araujo, a freshman outside hitter, earned second team honors.
All-in-all, five Region IX players made either the first or second all-American honors.
WNCC coach Giovana Melo said the honors speak well for the accomplishment of the entire team.
“It is a great honor to be an All American in this program,” she said. “They are both great player and deserve the honor. But, they would not be anything without their teammates.”
Both players excelled on the court this season. Goncalves was Region IX’s leading setter, averaging nearly 11 set assists a game. She was also named Region IX’s Setter of the Year as well as Freshman of the Year. Goncalves had an outstanding national championship match, finishing with 15 digs, 47 set assists and blocks in a five-set win against San Jacinto College.
Araujo was among Region IX leaders in kills, digs and aces per game. Araujo earned all-regional honors as well as being named to the national tournament all-Tournament team, including finishing with 21 kills, 15 digs, four aces and nine points in the San Jacinto match at the national tournament.
“They both had a very difficult but amazing year,” Melo said of the team freshmen from Brazil. “They came in and did not know any English, could not communicate on the court in the beginning of the season. But, as soon as they got a little bit more comfortable with the language, the culture, and the volleyball system we play in, they played at a very high level.” WNCC capped off a magical season by finishing 43-4 and capturing their second national title in four seasons. WNCC topped Wallace State-Hanceville and Blinn College in straight sets to open the tournament before dropping Salt Lake Community College in four sets and then coming back with a strong fifth set in winning 15-10 over San Jacinto for the title.
Four Region IX players earned first-team All-American honors. Besides Goncalves, Northeastern Junior College’s Karen Rivatto, Western Wyoming Community College’s Olivera Medic, and Laramie County Community College’s Marai Voitenko received the NJCAA top honors.
Melo said having four on the first team shows the competitiveness of volleyball in Region IX.
“It says the Region IX is getting better and better and being well represented in the nation,” she said. “We have many amazing athletes at the junior college level so to be an all American is an honor.”
The first team is loaded with players that competed at the national tournament. Other first team selections included Alyssa Dibbern and Candace Soares of San Jacinto; Marci King of Eastern Arizona College; Milicia Krstojevic of Florida State College of Jacksonville; Mariana Lisboa of Iowa Western; Nikki McNorton of Blinn College; Manifranchi Rodriguez of Miam Dade College; and Tina Strahinic of North Idaho College.
NJCAA second team includes Araujo from WNCC; Barbara Alcantara of College of Southern Idaho; Yennifer Calcano of Miami Dade; Erika Charry of Salt Lake Community College; Courtnee Davis and Josiane Santa Santos of Panola; Beta Dumanoic of Jefferson College; Jaclyn Gerig of Blinn; Victoria Jablonka of Frank Phillips; Kelsey Ann Marek of Temple College; Haley Schackelford of Yavapai College; and Ni Xu of Iowa Western.
Honorable mention honors went to Taulise Dunklin of Wallace State-Hanceville; Emma Filiaga of Dodge City; Mimi Hajdukovic of Miami Dade; Julia Havili of Missouri State-West Plains; Aurora Newgard of State College of Florida; and Maryna Samday of Seminole State College.
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