WNCC volleyball finishes recruiting by getting four more players

Western Nebraska Community College volleyball coach Giovana Melo is pleased with her first recruiting class, describing next year’s team as a fun group to watch.

“We will be very talented and fun,” Melo said. “They [the recruits] fit perfectly with our returners.”

Melo finished off her recruiting by getting four more players to join the program, including all-state performer from Louisiana Kathryn Stock, a 6-foot hitter from Thibodaux, La. Melo also inked Tania Delgado, a 6-1 middle/rightside hitter from Camuy, Puerto Rico, as well as 5-5 setter/libero Kulleialohamiaikalani (Kuulei) Kabalis of Hilo, Hawaii. Kuulei is the younger sister of current volleyball player Kalaini Kabalis.

Scottsbluff’s Mackenzie Westphal will also join the Cougar program next year after spending a year away from the game. Westphal, a 5-10 outside hitter who earned Star-Herald volleyball player of the year honors in 2007, originally inked with Wagner College after her senior year. She was one of the Bearcats leading hitters as a senior, leading them to the state tournament in 2005 and 2006.

Melo said the latest recruits will be good additions to the program.

“They are very promising athletes,” she said. “They will be a big addition for our team next year as well as all the other incoming freshmen. Mackenzie Westphal has also decided to come back and play for us.”

Stock, who was being recruited by a number of nationally-recognized programs such as Salt Lake Community College, Hillsborough Community College, Casper College, North Idaho College, Spartanburg Methodist, University of Lousiana-Lafayette and Nicholis State, earned all-state honors all four years of her high school career.

Stock finished her senior season with 321 kills, 125 aces, 324 digs and 111 blocks in 28 matches. She was named the MVP of the state championship team, MVP of the all-star game, and a Gatorade Player of the Year in volleyball for Lousiana.

Stock said she sent Melo an email about playing at WNCC.

“I choose WNCC because of the quality of education and the volleyball program,” Stock said. “The coaches and the team members attracted me to the college, plus the history of the program.

Stock not only shined on the volleyball court, but she excelled in the classroom, where she had a 4.0 grade point average and earned first place at the Academic Fair the past two seasons. She is hoping to continue excelling on both fronts at WNCC.

“I want to win a national championship, make new friends, share the gospel and get a good education,” she said.

Delgado also had the same playing and academic credentials as Stock, where she graduated with honors from Colegio San Felipe High School. She learned about WNCC from current volleyball Paloma Alvarez, who attended the same high school as she did.

“I choose WNCC because it is a good opportunity to improve my English,” she said. “I like the fact that there are a lot of international students there. I will also be able to improve my game and be with a very good team with good coaches.”

Delgado also participated in basketball and weighlifting San Felipe High. She was on the national honor society, was an honor program student and nominated to represent her high school in the “El Nuevo Educador” competition. She hopes to get an associate degree in biology and continue on to get a doctorate in surgery with a specialty in pediatric cardiology.

These four join three earlier volleyball players signing to play for Melo. They include Gering’s Sierra Schmidt, Kearney Catholic’s Emily Hoehn, and Woodland Park, Colo.’s Ariel Austin.

“As of right now, we will have 13 players overall,” Melo said. “We have seven freshmen and six sophomores, which is a pretty good balance.”

WNCC will open the season Aug. 28 and 29 at a tournament in Council Bluffs, Iowa.