WNCC Volleyball Team No. in the nation

WNCC volleyball makes history with No. 1 ranking in NJCAA polls

Don’t mind the little extra swagger the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team now possesses when they take to the court.

That swagger is warranted after the Cougars vaulted to the No. 1 spot in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association rankings that were released Wednesday morning. It is the first time the Cougar volleyball team has been ranked in the top spot. It is also the third time ever that a Cougar team has been ranked No. 1. In 2004, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams garnered the top spot with the men staying there for five weeks and the women just one.

“I think the girls are excited about the ranking,” WNCC head coach Chris Green said. “For me it really doesn’t mean a lot. It is still early in the season and it is only the second poll that has come out. It would be better to be ranked No. 1 at the end of the season, but we are up there and if we keep winning I suppose we will stat at No. 1. That is a good thing that we control our own destiny.”

For freshman Kendra Schauermann, the ranking is still a shock.

“Honestly, it is almost unbelievable. But it feels really good to be able to say that we are ranked No. 1 in the country,” the outside hitter from Windsor, Colo., said. “However, at the same time, it won’t mean anything unless we play up to it and keep it. To do this, we will have to remain level-headed and just play our own game no matter who the opponent is.”

Stacie Meisner, a Gering High graduate who has been part of a winning tradition for the Bulldogs all through high school, knows that they can’t too excited.

“It’s really exciting to be ranked No. 1, but it doesn’t really change anything for us,” she said. “We’ll continue to work hard like we have all season and the only pressure we have is what we expect from ourselves.”

WNCC is worthy of the ranking sitting atop the rankings with a 26-1 record. Their only defeat came to North Idaho College, who is No. 2 in the polls. Rounding out the top five is Iowa Western Community College, Jefferson College and Blinn College.

Miami-Dade Community College, last week’s No. 1 team, lost three times last week to Lake Land College, Missouri State-West Plains and Jefferson College to fall to No. 8. The Cougars return to the courts, with their No. 1 ranking in tow, Thursday through Friday when they host the Wyo-Braska Shootout.

The Cougars rise to the top is warranted considering that the team has defeated five of the to 20 teams or other teams that received votes. WNCC defeated North Idaho, Salt Lake Community College and Snow College at the Salt Lake tournament, in which the Cougars won for the first time in school history.

WNCC also has defeated Iowa Western Community and Central Community College-Columbus (No. 13 in Division II) two weeks ago. The team also handed Northeastern Junior College two defeats.

Green said the players realize they have to keep improving to stay on top.

“They want to prove and show everyone that they really deserve to be No. 1,” he said. “ I think it is a good thing for us, and I don’t think this group of girls will become cocky or anything like that. They realize that they need to keep improving. I think it will make us a better team because they want to show everyone that they are really No. 1. They are working hard to prove that.”

Jennifer Eichler, who didn’t play last year when the team went through the regular season with one loss, realizes they cannot stop now.

“I have never been on a team that has been ranked this high before,” she said. “It’s really great that people are expecting a lot from us now. I think that we can do really well and stay at the top. But we will definitely have to work our hardest and not get off track. It will take everything everybody has at time to stay there.”

The Cougars have won four tournaments so far this season and are currently on a 44-game winning streak, and a 72 match winning streak against Region IX teams.

Green said the No. 1 ranking adds to other teams wanting to defeat the Cougars.

I think everyone wanted to beat us to begin with, so being No. 1, I don’t know if that is much of a difference,” he said. “If you go into a match and you are the No. 2 team in the country, the other team is looking to beat at just as bad. It is not like we are a dominate No. 1. We just need to keep working hard, and continue to improve maybe now faster then the teams that we already played.”