The
Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team enters this season as one of
the top teams to beat after the NJCAA released its pre-season polls on Monday.
WNCC,
who finished 40-3 and runner-up at nationals a year ago, enters the season as
the team to beat after earning the pre-season No. 1 ranking.
Gering’s
Morgan Broussard, who returns as one of two setters for the Cougars, said while
it is nice to be picked as the favorite, they still have to show it on the
court.
“It
is really big to be ranked that high,” she said. “Being the No. 1 team to beat
is nice because when you walk into a gym teams know who you are. You really
want to play for your teammates, your community, and your family. It is keeping
that name and keeping the tradition going is great.”
The
Cougars are used to being the favorite. WNCC will be vying for their 15th
straight regional title and trip to the national tournament. They will also be
taking aim at their third national title after winning championships in 2007
and 2010.
Broussard
said their season is never easy and they can handle the pressure that being a
favorite bestows upon them.
“It
is never easy and there will always be that pressure on our shoulders because
we are known for being up there [in the rankings] and we always have a target
on our back,” she said. “Teams know that we will want to come back after the results
of losing in the national championship match last year. “
The Cougars will play three of
the top six teams in their first tournament on Aug. 23-24 at the Reiver Classic
in Council Bluffs, Iowa. That tournament will take place at the Mid-American
Center, where the Cougars won their first national title in 2007.
The
Cougars open the season against No. 4 San Jacinto College and then No. 2 Iowa
Western Community College before taking on Barton Community College and No. 6
Salt Lake Community College to round out the tournament.
Broussard
said that the tough opening weekend will make them stronger for the end of the
season.
“We
will really to step it up that first week because the season doesn’t start out
easy,” she said. “The hardest part of the season is at the beginning and the
end because we really have some hard competition at the beginning, which is
nice. We really need to work hard together and just go one game at a time.”
Even
with how hard the schedule is, the team is up to it. Broussard said the team is
looking sharp.
“We
have the six returners and then we have some good freshmen coming up,” she
said. “The talent is there and it might take some time to get where we want to
be, but as of now we are working really well together as a team.”
The
Cougars have seen many of the ranked teams last year and will see many of the
same national powers once again this season. Three Region IX teams also made
the listing. Western Wyoming Community College is ranked 16th, while
Casper College is ranked 19th. Northwest College received honorable
mention votes.
The top
10 is loaded with talent to start off the season. Iowa Western, who has a new
coach, is ranked second followed by College of Southern Idaho, San Jacinto
College, and College of Central Florida.
Rounding
out the top 10 sees Salt Lake at number six, followed by Miami Dade College,
Missouri State-West Plains, Tyler Junior College, and Temple College.
The
community can get a sneak peak at the pre-season No. 1 ranked Cougars this
weekend when they have their Blue and Gold scrimmage on Saturday. First,
however, they will have a scrimmage against Hastings College on the road on
Friday.
“Practices
are going good,” Broussard said. “We keep a high intensity up the whole
practice, which is good because how you practice is how you will play. We need
to play at the highest level we can at practice because that is how we will
need to play in matches. I really like this group of girls. They are easy to
get along with and play with.”
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