Western
Nebraska Community College volleyball players Danika Youngblood and Luiza
Martins were honored by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) last week with
first-team All-American honors.
Youngblood,
a 5-8 sophomore outside hitter from South Jordan, Utah, and Martins, a 5-9
freshman setter from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, helped lead the Cougar women to a
40-3 record and a runner-up finish at the NJCAA Division I national tournament in
November. The two were just part of a Cougar team that had could have had a
number of others receive the honor, according to head coach Giovana Melo.
“It [the
honors] says a lot about the program but I give the credit to all the other
players as well,” she said. “They get better because of each other. We had an
extremely talented team this year and they made each other better every day.”
The
NJCAA selects first and second team selections as well as honorable mention in
each of the divisions of one, two, and three. The AVCA’s selection is a
combination of all the two-year college no matter division or state
association. The only other first-team all-American was Morgan Heise of Central
Community College-Columbus.
Melo
said it was an honor to watch Youngblood and Martins on the court this season.
“My
memories are of them enjoying playing with each other and as a team,” she said.
“They are both hard working kids and brought a lot of energy to this team.”
Melo
said that Youngblood really stepped up her game this season, both on and off
the court.
“Danika
had a great season,” she said. “I think she matured as a player and as a
person.”
Youngblood
finished her sophomore season with 474 kills, 401 digs, 37 blocks, and 24 ace
serves. She finished the season third in the nation in kills, kills per set and
total attacks. She was also 8th overall in points per set at 4.4
while accumulating 520 points (kills plus aces plus solo blocks).
Youngblood
and Martins each were selected to the NJCAA national tournament all-tournament
team. The two were also on the Region IX South all-region team. Martins was
also picked as the Region IX Setter of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
Martins
had an outstanding season finishing with 10.26 assists per set. She also had 55
kills, 282 digs, and 36 ace serves. Melo said Martins became more comfortable
her style of play as the season went along. Martins was third in the nation in
total assists (1,334) and fifth in assists per set.
“Luiza
struggled a little bit in the beginning with the language, getting used to a
new game, and the different culture but I think by the end of the season she
was able to pull all together,” Melo said. “She is a great setter and still has
a lot of room to improve.”
Youngblood
and Martins selection as first-team all-Americans by the NJCAA marks the third
time in the last four years that WNCC has had two first-team all-Americans.
Last year Fernanda Goncalves and Debora Araujo earned that honor and both
players now playing at NCAA Division I Cal State-Bakersfield.
Kaleinani
Kabalis and Sabina Piegza were tabbed first team all-Americans in 2009, while
Fatima Balza and Nayka Benitez were all-Americans in 2008. All four played at
Division I schools after WNCC. Piegza just finished her senior season at St. Johns
University, while Kabalis played her final season at South Dakota State after
playing a year at Washington State.
Balza,
who is now the assistant coach for WNCC, won two national championships at Penn
State. Benitez went on to play at Creighton and is now playing professionally
in Puerto Rico.
Melo
said it is an honor to see this success with this program.
“Honestly,
I try to teach them [the players] to strive for success as becoming better
people and getting better each day,” she said. “The accomplishments come as
consequence of their hard work.”
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