2018-19 WNCC Cougar Volleyball News
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WNCC’s Commins headed to Dakota State for volleyball
May 17, 2019Jayme Commins came to Western Nebraska Community College from Ogallala High School where volleyball tradition has been rich under rich under volleyball coach Steve Morgan. Now, after spending two years at WNCC under Cougar head coach Binny Canales, Commins is taking her volleyball talents to the next level after signing with Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota. -
WNCC’s Belford signs to play Division I volleyball at St. Francis
April 11, 2019When Logan Belford came to Western Nebraska Community College, little did she know that she would be playing at the Division I level after her time in Scottsbluff was up. Belford, of Ft. Collins, Colorado, made it official recently after signing to play volleyball at St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. Belford said it has always been a dream of hers to play at the Division I level. “It has always been a dream for me and it is exciting for a dream come true,” she said. “This has always been my dream and I have always worked hard for it. It kind of has been a goal for me so it is nice to know I met that goal for myself.”
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WNCC’s Tuisamatatele signs with Division I Southern Mississippi
April 02, 2019Western Nebraska Community College sophomore Kaile Tuisamatatele always had a dream to play Division I volleyball. Last Friday that dream came true as the 6-foot-1 middle hitter inked with the University of Southern Mississippi in front of teammates, friends, and her dad who was watching via video on a phone. Tuisamatatele said she had to sign before Sunday so her dad could watch the signing before his deployment with the National Guard to Afghanistan.
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WNCC’s Bartley, Jordan ink with four-year schools
March 28, 2019Western Nebraska Community College volleyball players Sarena Bartley and Aloni Jordan both will be playing volleyball closer to home after inking with four-year schools Wednesday night. Bartley of Ridgefield, Washington, is headed to NAIA Corban University in Salam, Oregon. Jordan, of St. Louis, Missouri, will be taking her talents to the Division II level after signing with East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.
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WNCC’s Masaki signs with UTEP
February 22, 2019Western Nebraska Community College’s Enna Masaki keeps the tradition going with at least one volleyball player signing with a Division I college for 13 straight years. Masaki continued that streak when she signed with the University of Texas El Paso on Monday. The streak started in 2006 when Barbara Frietas signed with the University of Houston and Bianca Rivera with Creighton.
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Mitchell’s Gillen inks with WNCC volleyball
January 09, 2019Mitchell’s Anabelle Gillen has dreamed of playing volleyball for Western Nebraska Community College since her freshman year. That dream became reality on Tuesday with Gillen signed with the Cougars. Gillen’s decision to sign with WNCC wasn’t a difficult one after WNCC head coach Binny Canales, who has watched her play for four years, offered her a scholarship.
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Masaki, Costas named to OWH All-Nebraska JUCO Team
January 01, 2019The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team won 28 matches this past season and the players received some honors from the Omaha World-Herald when the All-Nebraska JUCO team was released in December. Enna Masaki, a sophomore hitter and setter, received the top honor earning honorary captain of the 8-member JUCO All-Nebraska team. Masaki made the All-Nebraska JUCO first team as a freshman a year ago.
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Gering’s Schaub, Mitchell ink with WNCC volleyball
November 12, 2018Western Nebraska Community College volleyball coach Binny Canales didn’t have to look far in recruiting height for next season after signing Gering’s giants Olivia Schaub and Ariana Mitchell to Letter of Intents on Monday. Schaub, a 6-foot outside hitter, and Mitchell, a 5-11 middle hitter, had stellar careers at Gering over their four-year careers. The two become the third player that Canales has signed for next season. Earlier, Olivia Transfiguracion of Kapolei, Hawaii, signed. Transfiguracion is a 5-7 setter. Schaub and Mitchell have known the Cougar program for quite a while and are thankful that they get to be a part of a nationally-known program.
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WNCC falls to NJC, still alive for national tourney berth
November 03, 2018CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team dropped the first Region IX championship match on Friday to Northeastern Junior College in four sets 14-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-21. NJC’s win gives the Plainswomen the Region IX District C championship and a berth in the NJCAA national tournament Nov. 15-17 in Hutchinson, Kansas. WNCC, 28-8, is still alive for a regional title as they will play in the Region IX District D championship match on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Cheyenne, Wyoming. WNCC opponent will be either Laramie County Community College or Western Wyoming Community College. Those two teams play at noon at Storey Gym.
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WNCC ends season with loss to LCCC
November 03, 2018CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team finished the season with 28 wins after falling to No. 18 Laramie County Community College in four sets in the Region IX District C championship contest Saturday afternoon at the Region IX tournament in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Cougars battled in the contest but came up on the wrong side of the scoreboard, falling 25-15, 17-25, 25-14, 26-14 to the Golden Eagles. LCCC will represent Region IX at the national tournament as the District D representative. NJC will represent Region IX in District B after topping WNCC on Friday.
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WNCC one win from Region IX title
November 02, 2018CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team erased a 2-0 deficit and came back to record a five-set win over Northwest College in the semifinals of the Region IX tournament at Storey Gym in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Northwest captured the first two sets 25-19, 25-21 before the Cougars stormed back in claiming the next three 25-17, 25-23, 15-4 to move in the championship game of the regional tournament. WNCC will play Northeastern Junior College Friday at 4 p.m. with the winner advancing to the national tournament while the loser falls into the elimination bracket and needs to win on Saturday for the other national tournament berth. NJC also came back from a 2-0 deficit to top Laramie County Community College in five sets 25-27, 15-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-11.
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WNCC volleyball sweeps McCook at regionals
November 01, 2018CHEYENNE – Behind eight ace serves from Enna Masaki, the Western Nebraska Community College made quick work of McCook Community College in the quarterfinals of the Region IX tournament Wednesday afternoon at the Region IX tournament in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Cougars, 25-9 overall, finished with 12 ace serves and 47 kills in earning the straight set win over the Indians 25-15, 25-21, 25-19 to advance to the semifinals on Thursday. WNCC will face Northwest College at 4 p.m. with the winner advancing to the Region IX championship game on Friday. Northwest swept past Otero Junior College 25-23, 25-20, 25-23.
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Cougar volleyball set for regionals
October 30, 2018The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team will be entering the Region IX tournament with a mission and that is to win their 20th straight regional tournament when action begins on Halloween at Storey Gym in Cheyenne, Wyoming. WNCC, 24-9 on the season, have won 19 straight regional titles when the tournament format was divided into two tournaments, a north and a south with both champions making the national tournament.
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WNCC falls to No. 5 Iowa Western in five sets
October 27, 2018It was a battle of two top 20 ranked teams and the action on the court didn’t disappoint the spectators in the crowd as No. 5 Iowa Western Community College topped No. 18 Western Nebraska Community College in five sets 28-26, 25-23, 21-25, 17-25, 16-14 in the Cougars final regular season home match. WNCC drops to 24-9 on the season as it prepares for the Region IX tournament that begins on Halloween in Cheyenne, Wyoming, at Storey Gym. The Cougars will play at 1 p.m. Oct. 31 against the winner of the North 4/South 5 winner. Sarena Bartley, who finished with 16 kills and one of the six sophomores that played their final game at Cougar Palace, said despite the loss, WNCC played one of its best games.
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WNCC sweeps Sheridan on sophomore night
October 26, 2018It was a team performance Thursday night as the No. 18 Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team swept past Sheridan College 25-17, 25-11, 25-16 for the team’s 24th victory of the season. The win, which moved the Cougars to 24-8, was special for the sophomores who were recognized before the game. All six sophomores started against Sheridan and everyone contributed in some fashion in the contest.
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WNCC falls in five sets to Laramie County
October 24, 2018CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The No.18 Western Nebraska Community College fought back from a 2-0 deficit only to come up short in a heartbreaking loss to Laramie County Community College in five sets 25-13, 25-20, 17-25, 17-25, 16-14 Tuesday evening in Cheyenne. The loss drops the Cougars to 23-8 on the season and snaps a 9-match winning streak, while the Golden Eagles move to 23-7 and push their win streak to 12 matches. WNCC will have two more regular season matches before next week’s regional tournament this week at home. On Thursday, in sophomore recognition night, the Cougars host Sheridan College at 7 p.m. followed by a Friday night encounter against No. 5 Iowa Western Community College at 7:30 p.m. in homecoming festivities after the match.
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WNCC tops McCook for ninth straight win
October 20, 2018McCOOK – Amryi-Grace Paris and Sarena Bartley combined for 29 kills and the No. 19 Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team overcame a bad first set to register a four-set 17-25, 25-19, 25-23, 28-26 Region IX South conference win over McCook Community College Friday evening in McCook. The win was the Cougars ninth straight win. WNCC finished the South sub-region at 9-1 and pushed their overall record to 23-7 with three matches next week to wrap up the regular season. WNCC travels to Cheyenne to face Laramie County Community College on Tuesday before hosting Sheridan College on Thursday and then No. 2 Iowa Western Community College Friday.
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WNCC tops NJC, wins South sub-region
October 18, 2018The No. 19 Western Nebraska Community College rebounded from a first set loss and rolled through the next three in topping No. 20 Northeastern Junior College 24-26, 25-12, 25-18, 25-14 to win the Region IX South Conference Wednesday night at Cougar Palace. The win was the Cougars eighth straight and moved WNCC to 22-7 overall and 8-1 in South Conference play. NJC drops to 20-6 and 6-3 in conference play. Both teams have one conference game left, WNCC travels to McCook on Friday and NJC goes to McCook on Tuesday.
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WNCC sweeps Trinidad for seventh straight
October 13, 2018The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team captured their seventh straight with a sweep over Trinidad State Junior College 25-15, 25-18, 25-15 in a Region IX South Conference match Saturday afternoon at Cougar Palace. The win moves the Cougars to 21-7 overall but more importantly keeps the Cougars on top of the South sub-region standings at 7-1. Northeastern Junior College is second in the conference at 6-2. WNCC and NJC will hook up in a key sub-region contest on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Cougar Palace.
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WNCC volleyball tops No. 19 Otero in four sets
October 12, 2018The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team received 18 kills each from Enna Masaki and Gaby Canavati and the Cougars topped No. 19 Otero Junior College in four sets Thursday night at Cougar Palace in a Region IX South conference contest. WNCC’s win was highlighted by plenty of fight, in coming back from deficits all night lone to get the 26-24, 25-27, 25-21, 28-26 win to move to 5-1 in conference play and 19-7 overall. Otero drops to 4-2 in conference and 21-3 overall.
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WNCC tops Lamar for 20th win of season
October 12, 2018Enna Masaki had a triple-double and the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball won their sixth straight with a four-set win over Lamar Community College 25-18, 25-23, 19-25, 25-13 in a Region IX South Conference contest Friday at Cougar Palace. Masaki finished with 17 kills, 12 digs and 10 points in the Cougars 20th win of the season to seven defeats.
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WNCC takes down No. 19 NJC in five sets
October 06, 2018STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team put together a solid outing in topping No. 19 Northeastern Junior College in five sets 26-24, 20-25, 25-20, 21-25, 15-11 in a Region IX South conference contest in Sterling, Colorado, Friday evening. The win moves the Cougars to 18-7 on the season but more importantly, they go to 4-1 in conference play and tied with Otero in conference standings. Otero and WNCC will meet Thursday night at Cougar Palace at 6 p.m.
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WNCC sweeps Casper for 17th win
October 02, 2018CASPER, Wyo. – Enna Masaki recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs in her first match back in two weeks to lead the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team to a 25-17, 25-14, 25-13 sweep over Casper College Tuesday at Casper, Wyoming. Masaki, who sat out the last two weekends with an injury, stepped up big in helping the Cougars to their 17th win.
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WNCC sweeps Trinidad, moves 1/2 game in first place in conference standings
October 01, 2018TRINIDAD, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team finished with 41 kills in sweeping past Trinidad State Junior College 25-14, 25-19, 25-20 in a Region IX South Conference game Saturday afternoon at Trinidad, Colorado. The Cougars received a double-double from Amryi-Grace Paris and Kaile Tuisamatatele in leading WNCC to its 16th win of the season.
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WNCC volleyball tops Lamar in four
September 29, 2018LAMAR, Colo. – A day after falling to No. 19 Otero Junior College, the Western Nebraska Community College received seven solo blocks and 15 kills from Leslie Mamai-Lagafuaina in topping Lamar Community College 25-21, 26-28, 25-11, 25-18. Lamar came into Friday’s match fresh off a four-set win over Northeastern Junior College on Thursday. The Cougars responded from their Thursday defeat with authority in picking up their 15th win of the season.
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WNCC falls to No. 19 Otero
September 27, 2018LA JUNTA, Colo. – The No. 19 Otero Junior College volleyball team continued their strong start to the season with a sweep over Western Nebraska Community College Thursday 25--17, 25-14, 25-18. The Rattlers move to 17-1 on the season while the Cougars fall to 14-7.
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WNCC sweeps Dawson, Casper for 14th win
September 23, 2018Gabby Canavati and Amryi-Grace Paris combined for 44 kills on the day as the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team swept past Dawson Community College and Casper College in impressive fashion for their 14th wins of the season in the final day of the Wyo-Braska Invite at Cougar Palace. In the Cougar’s opener, WNCC pounded down 38 kills in sweeping past Dawson 25-9, 25-18, 25-18. WNCC’s hitting continued in the final match of the invite against Casper as Canavati tallied 15 kills and Paris 14 to lead WNCC to the 25-9, 27-25, 25-17 win over the Thunderbirds.
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WNCC tops EWC in first day of Wyo-Braska Invite
September 22, 2018The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team had a team effort in rolling to a 25-20, 25-6, 25-16 over Eastern Wyoming College Friday in the first day of the Wyo-Braska Invite at Cougar Palace. The Cougar played once on the day and will have two matches in the invite on Saturday when they face Dawson Community College at noon followed by Casper College at 4 p.m.
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Masaki’s 24 kills powers WNCC past McCook
September 21, 2018Enna Masaki pounded down 24 kills and the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team defeated McCook Community College in four sets 25-27, 25-20, 25-19, 25-17 in a Region IX South conference contest Thursday at Cougar Palace. Masaki finished with a double-double of 24 kills and 15 digs as the Cougars captured their 11th win of the season.
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WNCC ready to host weekend tourney
September 20, 2018The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team will be busy this weekend as they get set to host McCook Community College on Thursday and then the Wyo-Braska Invite on Friday and Saturday.
