Final Four appearances is becoming old hat for the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team over the last seven trips to the National Junior College Athletic Association National Volleyball Tournament.
Just once, though, WNCC coach Chris Green would love to break that string and take the team to the next level – the National Championship match. If there is any year that change could happen, it is this year’s tournament. WNCC enters the national tournament, which begins Monday, as the top-ranked team in the NJCAA polls and the No. 1-seed in the 16-team tournament.
With everything the team as accomplished this season, it is not automatic that the No. 1 team will get to the championship game. But, Green likes his teams changes after playing a rigorous schedule this season.
“Over the last few years, we have scheduled tough tournaments where we have played top 10 teams throughout the season,” Green said. “I think the players are confident and experienced when they step on the court. They know exactly what needs to be done when we play a top opponent.”
The Cougars strong schedules over the past years definitely have paid dividends at nationals. WNCC boosts a 14-13 record over the past seven years at the national tournament, including four Final Four appearances. The highest the team has placed was third in 2001, when they defeated Southwest Missouri State on their home turf.
Green said that 2001 team boosted plenty of talent that played their hearts out to gain the Cougar’s highest finish at nationals.
“We had a very good team with a great quarterfinal upset [over Utah Valley State College in five games] to get into the final four,” he said. “ We did not play well in the semi-finals against Miami, but we finished strong with a third place win over the home team Southwest Missouri-West Plains.”
For the next two seasons, the Cougars had a slight hiccup, falling out of the Final Four perch before restoring the magic in 2004 and 2005, where they finished fourth both years.
This year, the Cougars are hoping to get out of that “third-place match” and play for a national title. And, as the No. 1 team in the nation, the eyes will be focused on the Cougars, who enter the tournament with a eye-popping 53-1 mark.
“We are going into the national tournament as the number one seed and that puts a target on our back. Everyone will be gunning for us,” he said. “It would be a great accomplishment to make it that far, especially given the level of talent in all the top 10 seeds.”
WNCC begins its march to the championship Monday at 1 p.m. against Cape Fear Community College, a team that comes into the tournament 21-7 and winners of their last eight matches. Barring an upset by Cape Fear, the Cougars road to the national championship will take a steep climb in talent. The Cougars will face either Frank Phillips College or Hillsborough Community College.
If anything, it is that second round match-up that is giving Green butterflies. “Our first round will not be against a top ten team, but our second round will be very dangerous,” he said. “If we get by the first round as we are expected, from there on it will be very difficult. The second round match may be against the Frank Phillips/Hillsborough winner, both teams being very talented.”
WNCC, though, always finds a way to win the early matches – against some good teams. It is the semi-finals that the Cougars stumble. Green said teams that make the Final Four will play twice in one day, exerting lots of energy against powerhouse teams.
“It is very difficult to play at the highest level for three straight days,” Green said. "This year, there are no dominant teams in the country. I believe that any of the top 10 seeds have a chance to make it to the championship match because of this year’s parity.”
What makes the mission for a championship match berth more stimulating is the atmosphere, both on and off the court.
"The atmosphere is amazing. The teams are playing at their very best, and it is a great place to play,” he said. “There are always some intense matches and this year will be no different.”
Of all the teams that Green has taken to the national tournament, he has experienced the thrills and the heartaches. Green said the team that overachieved was the 2004 team. That year they finished sixth, but only had four sophomores – Brittany Fornstrom, Brittany Isakson, Leslie Reeh and Jenny Quicke -- and limped into the national tournament with a 45-7 mark.
“To even get to nationals was a feat in itself. We defeated a very talented NJC team on their home court to make it,” Green said. “ We got a good draw in the bracket, but for that team to make it to the final four was a great accomplishment. We did not have a lot of height or a lot of offensive weapons, but we were consistent and played as a team.”
That 2004 miracle team opened play with wins over Pasco Hernando Community College and Western Wyoming Community College, before falling to Miami Dade in the semi-finals. The team then lost to Indian Hills in the third place match.
While the 2004 team stands out, Green had high hopes for the 2002 team. Things didn’t materialize liked he hope. That team went 1-3 after opening the tournament with a win over Frank Phillips, before dropping their next three.
“We lost a heartbreaker to Southwest Missouri in the quarterfinals in five tight games [25-30, 26-30, 30-18, 30-27, 11-15],” he said. “We then ended up losing the rest of our matches, finishing 8th place and 1-3 in the tournament. The team did not continue to fight through the tournament after they lost the chance to win a national championship.”
Unlike that year, this year’s team has plenty of fight having won all the tournaments they have competed in this season, including the always tough Salt Lake tournament. The Cougars also won the Wyo-Braska Shootout, as well as tournaments in Columbus, Garden City, Kan., and Liberal, Kan.
This year’s team is very similar to the 2004 team in the fact they only have three sophomores, and just two – Hailey Mueller and Bianca Rivera -- have seen national tournament before. Barbara Freitas transferred in after taking a year off to help her mom back in Brazil.
“I have asked the sophomores to help explain what it's all about,” he said. “I think they have been exposed to big tournament atmosphere at Salt Lake and at Seward County, so I don’t think it will be a problem.
“Again, the second round will be a very tough match. It will come down to which team is playing the best on that day.”
How the Cougars have fared in their eight trips to Nationals
1988 – The head coach was Cathy Schiller and current head coach Chris Green’s sister Monica was a member that led the team to the college’s first national trip in Miami, Fla. … The tournament was pool play and then single elimination bracket … They beat they No. 1 team in the tournament before settling for fifth place … Finished with a 45-13 overall record.
1999 – It was Chris Green’s first trip to nationals, finishing the tournament at 1-2 … Opened with a loss against Glendale Community College … Rebounded by defeating Iowa Western Community College in three games before losing to Sheridan College in five games … Finished the year at 35-10.
2000 – This was the first year the team became real contenders on the national level … Finished tournament withy a 2-2 record and a fourth place finish … Opened with wins against Illinois Central and Barton County, before falling to Southern Idaho in the semis and then to Utah Valley in the third place match … Finished year at 51-3.
2001 – The Cougars finished third at nationals in the first year at West Plains, Mo. … The team went 3-1 in tournament play … They opened with wins over Illinois Central and Utah Valley before falling to Miami Dade in the semis … Rebounded with a four-game win against Southwest Missouri on their home court. Finished year 57-5.
2002 – One of Green’s most disappointing finishes at nationals … Team finished tournament 1-3 after opening with win against Frank Phillips … Cougars then fell to Southwest Missouri in five games followed by losses to Seward County and Arizona Western … Finished year with a 57-9 record.
2003 – Only the second time the Cougars started the tournament with a loss … The team fell to the host team Southwest Missouri in the first round … The Cougars came storming back with wins over Casper College, Pasco Hernando and Southwestern Illinois for the consolation bracket trophy … Finished season at 43-12.
2004 – The Cougars took nationals by storm, upending NJC in the regional finals … Then went on to nationals to finish and take fourth … The Cougars opened with wins over Pasco Hernando and Western Wyoming before falling to Miami Dade in the semis … Cougars took fourth after losing a heartbreaker to Indian Hills in three games … Finished year at 47-9.
2005 – This year the team came so close to that first championship match appearance … Team opened with two wins, a cake walk through North Central Texas followed by a five-game thriller with Indian Hills … Cougars then lost to Miami Dade in three … WNCC finished tournament 2-2 after dropping third-place match to Missouri-West Plains in five games … Finished year at 53-3.
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