Western Nebraska Community College’s Debora Araujo has sent many players to their knees begging for mercy with her cannon hits. And it is those monster kills that has vaulted Araujo as one of the top 10 hitters in WNCC history.
Araujo will add to her 985 career kill total this weekend when she leads her Cougar volleyball team to the NJCAA national tournament beginning Thursday. WNCC, 38-1, opens play at 11 a.m. against West Texas College.
Araujo said this team is ready to defend last year’s national title.
“For this team to making the trip to nationals means we have been working hard to get there,” the 5-foot-10 outside hitter said. “We now have a chance to play and have a chance to win nationals.”
The Cougars finished the regular season at 38-1 and that only hiccup on the season came in the form of a four-game loss to Iowa Western Community College in October. That loss, however, might be a good blessing as the team has that pressure of entering the tournament as the number one team off their back.
“The season is going good because we are working hard and we have some really good games,” she said. “We play together as a team and we play with our hearts, helping each other. Coach is also doing a pretty good job in helping us.”
Araujo definitely has been one of the main hitters for the Cougars this season alongside the other outside hitter freshman Danika Youngblood. The two outside hitters have combined for769 kills this season. Araujo has nailed 427 kills and many of those kills have left black and blue marks on the defenders as her 100 mph fastballs could drive a nail into the floor.
Araujo is just one of 11 Cougar volleyball players to notch over 1,000 kills for her career, and most of those hits have been fireballs across the net. Araujo has 1,014 career kills and needs just 31 more kills to move to NO. 9 on the career kill chart ahead of Fatima Balza.
In fact, Araujo said that she has always hit hard, but she has gotten even better during her two years here.
“All these kills just means that I am doing what I need to do for my team,” she said. “The kills just feels good because I am working hard to do whatever I have to do and I am glad to have Fernanda [Goncalves] and Alyssa [Olson] as a setter because they are very good setters.”
Araujo is among one of the top hitters in the national, averaging four kills a game. She also has sparkled on defense by averaging three digs a contest. She also is a pin-point server as well.
Aruajo’s success is a continuation of her play last season, where she earned a spot on the national tournament all-tournament team as well as being selected an NJCAA second –team All-American. This season, Araujo also picked up plenty of recognition, earning Region IX all-region and all-tournament honors.
The one thing about all the honors, however, doesn’t get to Araujo ‘s head. In fact she remains humble, giving the team plenty of credit for the success of the season.
“This season is going really good,” she said. “I think I am doing a good job because the girls are helping me a lot. The coaches, Gi and Cesear, have helped me a lot as well along with the other two Brazilians Fernanda and Lais, and the other girls.”
As much as Araujo has excelled on the court, generating plenty of looks from plenty of Division I coaches, she is focused on one task at hand; to lead the Cougars to another national title.
“Yeah, I am getting a lot of interest from other schools, but I don’t want to think about it right know,” she said. “I am focusing on nationals and then after nationals, I will think about it.”
Araujo feels that this team has an opportunity to bring back a second straight national title, but it won’t be easy.
“”We didn’t play most of the teams there so it will be hard,” she said. “There are very good teams and it won’t be easy to get it.”
Araujo is just hoping that this season ends on a positive note somehow, whether it is a national title or not. But, she said it will be fantastic to finish her WNCC career as a 2-time national champion.
“It will be amazing if we can win back-to-back national titles,” she said. “I am so excited and ready to go play at nationals.”
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