The Cougars most recent accolades included putting four players on the Omaha World Herald Junior College All-Nebraska Volleyball team that was released last week.
Sabina Piegza, a sophomore setter, was named the honorary captain of the team that was nominated and voted upon by the Nebraska junior college volleyball coaches. The other all-Nebraska members included outside hitter Kaleinani Kabalis, middle hitter Paulina Piegza and libero Cami Weimer.
WNCC coach Giovana Melo said it is a nice recognition for the WNCC volleyball program.
“I think it is an awesome recognition for them and our program,” the second year head coach said. “They have done a great job for the past two years and they deserve to be recognized.”
Sabina Piegza led was one of the top setters in the nation averaging 10.5 set assists a game. She also was in the top five in hitting efficiency. She was also named a NJCAA first team all-American as well as being selected to the NJCAA all-tournament team at the national tournament in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in November.
“Sabi was a big key for our success,” Melo said. “As our setter, she was the player who had to make most of the decisions and was the one who touched the ball pretty much every play. She did a great job distributing the ball to the right hitters at the right time. That is when you can identify a great setter. Many of them can put the ball up, but the ones who are consistent and know who to set at the right times are the ones who make a difference in teams.”
Melo said the other three players also are deserving of the honors. Kabalis finished her career at WNCC as one of just nine players to accumulate over 1,000 kills. She also was named an NJCAA first-team all-American, as well as a member of the NJCAA all-tournament team. Kabalis, an outside hitter, was named the national tournament’s top defensive player, which shows her versatility on the court.
“Kalei and Pauli were two big hitters for us this year,” Melo said. “They led the team in kills all year and worked hard to get this team competing at the high level. They took a lot of responsibility as sophomores so this recognition is well deserved for them.”
Weimer earned the honor as top libero after stepping up at the regional and national tournament in the libero role. She, however, was also a top defensive specialist for the Cougars as well as serving time at the outside hitter position.
“Cami was a very versatile player for us in the past two years,” Melo said. “I have played her everywhere on the court and nothing ever fazed her. She was a player who I trusted just putting anywhere because she always took it as a new challenge and succeeded at every one of them. She really deserves the recognition for everything she accomplished here.”
WNCC, which finished 42-4 and third at the national tournament, had four players earn honorable mention on the OWH JUCO All-Nebraska team. They included sophomore Brook Blomenkamp, a Gering High graduate, and freshmen Kuulei Kabalis, Ariel Austin and Kathryn Stock.
The rest of the first team selections included Riley Callan and Ashley Wurdeman of Central Community College-Columbus; Erica Brown and Brandi Dye of North Platte Community College; and Carly Morehead of Southeast Community College.
Other Honorable mention candidates included Abby Houghtelling, Vonnie Fredrick, and Tasha Poppe of Central-Columbus; Joanna Bryant and Ariel Dunker of McCook Community College; Alexa Hopping, Shaylee Salyards and RyAnn Spady of North Platte; and CeCe Catlett and Monica Shaw of Southeast Nebraska.
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