WNCC volleyball host Western Wyoming, Wyo-Braska Classic

From Sept. 19, 2012

                The third-ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team will get another test this weekend as they are set to co-host the Wyo-Braska Invite, which runs Friday and Saturday.

                First off, though, the Cougars will have a battle against Western Wyoming Community College today (Thursday) beginning at 7 p.m. at Cougar Palace. This contest pits the two teams that finished second and third at the national tournament last season – Western Wyoming was the national tourney runner up.

                The match also puts together two highly ranked teams. WNCC comes into the contest with a sparkling 16-2 record and a No. 3 ranking. The Cougars have won their last 10 matches. This past weekend, head coach Giovana Melo netted her 200^th career coaching victory on Saturday.

                Western Wyoming enters the match at No. 13 after falling seven times on the year. But, the Mustangs’ 9-7 record is deceiving as they have defeated some top teams, including No. 5 Iowa Western Community College in five sets on Monday.

                After Thursday’s contest, WNCC and EWC will co-host the 14-team Wyo-Braska Invite with matches at both sites, beginning at 10 a.m. both days with the final match slated to kick off at 4 p.m.

                The Wyo-Braska Invite features many ranked teams. Besides WNCC and Western Wyoming, Central Wyoming College, who vaulted into the rankings at No. 20 will be here. Casper College, who received honorable mention votes, will also make an appearance. The big school to come to the Invite is Cowley County Community College, who is the top-ranked team in Division II.

                Other teams in the Wyo-Braska Invite included Seward County Community College, Northeastern Junior College, Northwest College, Laramie County, Air Force Prep, Lamar Community College, Dawson Community College, and Sheridan College.

                WNCC will have two matches on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, th Cougars will take on Sheridan College at noon followed by Laramie County Community College at 4 p.m. Saturday’s schedule has the Cougars facing Central Wyoming at noon followed by Northwest Wyoming at 4 p.m. Northwest Wyoming upended Western Wyoming earlier this month.

                After this weekend’s five games, the Cougars will have four straight home contests next weekend. On Tuesday, Sept. 25, WNCC will host McCook Community College followed by home contests on Sept. 27, 28, and 29 against Otero Junior College, Lamar Community College and Trinidad State Junior College.

Wyo-Braska Schedule

Friday at WNCC

10 a.m. – Seward County vs. LCCC; Western Wyoming vs. Cowley

Noon – WNCC vs. Sheridan

2 p.m. – Western Wyoming vs. Seward County; Lamar vs. Northwest

4 p.m. – WNCC vs. LCCC; Northwest vs. Cowley

Friday at EWC

10 a.m. – Casper vs. Lamar; Central Wyoming vs. NJC

Noon – EWC vs. Dawson

2 p.m. – NJC vs. Casper; Air Force Prep vs. Central Wyoming

4 p.m. – EWC vs. Air Force Prep; Dawson vs. Sheridan

Saturday at WNCC

10 a.m. – Cowley vs. Sheridan; Casper vs. Air Force Prep

Noon – WNCC vs. Central Wyoming

2 p.m. – Casper vs. Dawson; Cowley vs. LCCC

4 p.m. – WNCC vs. Northwest; LCCC vs. NJC

Saturday at EWC

10 a.m. – Northwest vs. Dawson; Western Wyoming vs. Lamar

Noon – EWC vs. Seward County; Western Wyoming vs. NJC

2 p.m. – Sheridan vs. Air Force Prep

4 p.m. – EWC vs. Lamar; Seward vs. Cowley