WNCC Cougar volleyball team ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA preseason poll

The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team’s target on their back just got a little bigger after the release of the National Junior College Athletic Association preseason polls Tuesday morning.

The Cougars, who finished last season with a 59-4 record and a third place finish at the national tournament, enter this season ranked No. 2. Blinn College, last year’s national champions, is the only team ranked ahead of WNCC.

The high ranking comes somewhat of a surprise to second year head coach Giovana Melo.

“I thought we had to be ranked high because we are returning some key players and we got third last year but I did not think we would be No. 2,” she said.

The Cougars return six players from last year’s team, including four starters. Cami Weimer, one of the returning starters from a year ago, said the high ranking isn’t surprising.

“Number two wasn’t a big surprise because we are a good team,” she said. “But, seriously, we have room to get better.”

Last season Blinn College toppled the University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith for the national title, while WNCC beat Iowa Western in a thrilling five sets. With Arkansas-Ft. Smith moving up to the four-year level, that left room for a new No. 2. The Cougars are now in that spot.

Melo said there will be some pressure to keep that lofty ranking.

“I think there is a little bit of a pressure but the preseason ranking does not mean anything,” she said. “It is too early to tell. Last year we were not even ranked (in the preseason) and ended up 3^rd in the nation. We will see.”

It won’t take long for the Cougars to get their first test of the season. WNCC opens the season Aug. 28-29 at the Iowa Western Invite where they are slated to play three ranked teams. WNCC will battle No. 3 Missouri State West Plains and No. 6 Iowa Western Community College. They will also Des Moines Area Community College, who is ranked No. 5 in the NJCAA Division II polls, in the tournament.

“I think playing those teams early is the best test we can have and that is the big reason why we go to that tournament,” Melo said. “It is important for us to face nationally ranked teams right the way and see where we are and what we need to work on.”

The top 10 teams all have a national tournament flare. After Blinn and WNCC, the rest of the top 10 includes No. 3 MSU-West Plains, No. 4 Miami Dade College, No. 5 Salt Lake Community College, No. 6 Iowa Western, No. 7 Frank Phillips College, No. 8 North Idaho College, No. 9 San Jacinto College, and No. 10 Hillsborough Community College.

Two other Region IX teams are also ranked in the preseason polls. Casper comes in at No. 15, while Northeastern Junior College enters at No. 19.

Weimer said they need to keep working hard. Their eye is on the No. 1 spot.

“If we keep working hard and playing tough, we should be in the number one spot,” the sophomore from Ft. Morgan said. “If we can get there, we should be deserving of it.”