The WNCC went through the tournament without dropping a game, defeating
“Defensively, we did really well. Our block and our backrow defense was the key,” Region IX coach of the year Chris Green said. “We had to work very hard. NJC pushed us hard. Even though it was a sweep, it was very good volleyball with good rallies. We had to fight hard and we had to be scrappy to get the win. This win is more gratifying that we had to work for it, and we definitely had to work for it.”
The Cougars were led in the contest by Region IX Setter of the Year Soriana Pacheco. Pacheco finished with 34 set assists, four blocks and 12 digs.
Another sophomore that stood out was Jennifer Eichler. Eichler finished with 11 kills, three aces, eight points, eight digs and four blocks, and Green said she stepped up nicely in the title contest.
“Jennifer Eichler had to come in and serve receive and she was passing five out of the six rotations, which she hasn’t done throughout the year, and she did a good job," he said. "They [NJC] was picking on her. She hung in there and did a good job in the place of where Nayka would have been.”
But the win was a team effort as many players helped punch the Cougars’ ticket to the national tournament. Daphine Da Silva finished with two aces, 15 points and 13 digs; Shawntell Jones had one ace, 10 points and five blocks; Stacie Meisner had two aces, eight points and 10 digs; Fatima Balza had 10 kills and seven blocks; Chelsea Lyles had nine kills; Aida Bauza had eighth kills and three blocks; and Kendra Schauermann had 14 digs.
Several Cougars also garnered post-tournament honors. Besides Pacheco earning setter of the year honors in Region IX, other regional honors went to Eichler, Fatima Balza, and Nayka Benitez. Balza was tabbed the Freshman of the Year, while Benitez was named the Libero of the Year. Benitez, however, didn’t make the trip to regionals after being hospitalized Wednesday night with an illness.
Other all-region members from the other teams included Addi Radke, Thais Hollerbach, Jessica Tjaden and Tamy Leipelt of NJC; Cheri Lindsay, Rosey Falemka and Alohanui Pekipaki of Otero Junior College; April Sanchez of Lamar Community College; Yadira Jacquez and Lauren Boehmer of Trinidad State; and Cayla Skaritka of McCook Community College.
Lyles, Pacheco, Eichler, Jones and Bauza also earned all-tournament honors, while Green garnered Coach of the year honors.
The Cougars, 50-2, will now head to the national tournament for the ninth straight year.
"Hopefully we can have a good week of practice and then we will head down there next Tuesday.
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