2019-20 WNCC Cougar Volleyball News
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WNCC’s Sherbeyn signs with Lyon College
May 21, 2020When Adia Sherbeyn signed with Western Nebraska Community College, she knew volleyball was the sport for her. Now, Sherbeyn gets to continue her volleyball playing at the next level after signing with Lyon College in north central Arkansas. The decision to attend Lyon College was easy even though she didn’t get to go on a visit. -
WNCC’s Canavati earns Cougar Award at WNCC all-campus awards ceremony
May 12, 2020Gabriela Canavati didn’t realize when she attended Western Nebraska Community College two years ago that she would finish her education at the college with much more than athletic honors. What Canavati ended with Cougar career with was many friendships and honors that go far and above the sports world. The WNCC all-campus award winners were announced last week without a ceremony like in past years and for Canavati, she was the big winner capturing two all-college awards and two athletic awards.
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WNCC’s Costas inks with Tarleton State for volleyball
March 27, 2020Ana Costas, one of Western Nebraska Community College’s top liberos, will be taking her defensive talents to the next level after inking with Tarleton State University, a program that is moving to Division I next season, earlier this month. Costas said playing Division I volleyball has been something she has dreamed of since she was a little girl. “It is exciting [going to the next level] because I have been dreaming of this since I was four years old,” she said. “It is a dream come true and it is at the DI level.”
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WNCC’s Canavati signs with Cameron for volleyball
March 17, 2020After two years at Western Nebraska Community College, Cougar volleyball player Gabriela Canavati will be taking her volleyball talents to the next level after signing with Cameron University in Oklahoma in February. Canavati said Cameron is closer to her home in Laredo, Texas, and it is a good school for her major of psychology.
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Gering’s Winkler inks with WNCC volleyball
February 28, 2020Gering’s Elli Winkler had a decision to make of what she wanted to do in college. On one hand was volleyball, the other hand was track and field. And, on the third hand, was the dance team. After visiting Western Nebraska Community College and reuniting with her former teammates Olivia Schaub and Arianna Mitchell, along with the rest of the players, her decision became much clearer. She made that decision to play volleyball for WNCC official when she signed her letter of intent on Thursday in front of family and friends at GHS.
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WNCC’s Mamai-Lagafuaina, Cordero make OWH All-Nebraska team
December 27, 2019Western Nebraska Community College’s Leslie Mamai-Lagafuaina continues to rack in the honors after the Omaha World-Herald released its All-Nebraska JUCO team this week. Mamai-Lagafuaina was named the honorary captain of the JUCO team after a stellar sophomore season. Joining Mamai-Lagafuaina on the firest team is her teammate Karen Cordero.
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WNCC’s Mamai-Lagafuaina earns NJCAA Second Team All-American
December 16, 2019What Leslie Mamai-Lagafuaina accomplished in her two years at Western Nebraska Community College came full circle when the 6-foot-3 middle hitter from Alea, Hawaii, was named a NJCAA Division I Second Team All-American earlier this month. The honor was something that holds a special place in her heart, considering she knows how much she has improved from her freshman to sophomore year. “In all honesty, being a second team NJCAA All American means the world to me because I’ve grown so much as an athlete and come so far compared to the player I was last year,” she said. “I am proud and thankful for this opportunity because I get to not only represent my teammates, my coaches and last but not least Western Nebraska.”
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Pine Bluff’s Fornstrom inks with WNCC volleyball
November 15, 2019Pine Bluff’s Hyleigh Fornstrom becomes Binny Canales’ first recruit to attend Western Nebraska Community College next year. Fornstrom, the Hornet’s 6-0 setter/middle hitter, comes from a volleyball-rich Pine Bluffs program that went 28-5 and finished the season going 1-2 at the Wyoming State tournament over the weekend. Fornstrom said signing with WNCC was the right choice.
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WNCC volleyball comes up short at regionals
November 10, 2019STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team came up a few points short of capturing a regional title and berth at the national tournament falling to Northeastern Junior College in the title game. The Cougars finished the season 28-9 and made a big run to a regional title. WNCC opened the day sweeping Eastern Wyoming College 25-22, 25-23, 25-16 before falling to NJC in four sets 15-25, 25-23, 25-21 25-21. NJC earns the second bid to the national tournament. Otero captured the first bid on Friday by downing NJC.
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WNCC stays alive at regionals with sweep over McCook
November 08, 2019STERLING, Colo. – The 19th-ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team is playing with a lot of heart right now after what they have gone through the past 24 hours at the Region IX tournament in Sterling, Colorado. Friday, the Cougars fell to Otero Junior College 25-20, 25-17, 25-18 in a game that was postponed from Thursday. After falling into the Contender’s bracket, the Cougars came back and swept through McCook Community College 25-16, 25-19, 25-20 to remain alive for a berth at the national tournament with matches today.
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WNCC tops Central Wyoming in first day of regional tourney
November 07, 2019STERLING, Colo. – The 19th-ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team started the Region IX tournament with a four-set win over Central Wyoming College 22-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-13 to continue their drive for a regional title. WNCC, 26-7, will now face Otero Junior College in the semifinals Thursday at 6 p.m. The other semifinal will pit Northeastern Junior College against Western Wyoming at 4 p.m. The winners will face each other Friday at 4 p.m. for the Region IX title and one of the berths to the national tournament. The other berth will come from the winner of the Contenders Bracket, which that championship will be played Saturday at 4 p.m.
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WNCC opens up regional play on Wednesday
November 05, 2019The 19th-ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team will begin their trek to a Region IX title on Wednesday when they open play in the regional tournament Wednesday night at Sterling, Colorado. The Cougars, who enter the tournament with a 25-7 record, received the No. 1 seed from the South and will open play at 7 p.m. against the winner of the play-in match between Central Wyoming College and Trinidad State Junior College. That match will be played Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. The top two teams from the regional tournament will earn a berth to the NJCAA national tournament Nov. 21-23 in Hutchinson, Kansas.
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McCook tops WNCC in five
November 01, 2019Halloween delivered a trick instead of a treat to the 17th-ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball as the McCook Community College Indians received the treat with a five-set win over the Cougars 25-21, 15-25, 15-25, 25-19, 15-10 Thursday night at Cougar Palace. The loss drops the Cougars to 25-7 on the season and 8-2 in conference play to wrap up the regular season. McCook moves to 22-10 overall and 6-4 in conference play.
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WNCC volleyball falls in five sets
October 26, 2019STERLING, Colo. – The 16th ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team dropped a five-setter to Northeastern Junior College on Friday night, snapping a 13-game winning streak in a Region IX South Conference contest Friday night in Sterling, Colorado. The match was another epic WNCC/NJC match with NJC grabbing the first two sets 25-21, 25-22 before the Cougars came back to grab the next two 25-22, 25-16 to force a fifth set. In the fifth set, NJC held on to top WNCC 16-14 for the win.
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WNCC volleyball sweep Lamar for 25th win
October 26, 2019LAMAR, Colo. – The 16th-ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team had little trouble in sweeping through Lamar Community College 25-6, 25-12, 25-7 in a Region IX South Conference contest Saturday afternoon in Lamar, Colorado. The win was huge after the Cougars fell to Northeastern Junior College in five sets on Friday. WNCC moves to 8-1 in conference play and 25-6 overall. WNCC has two regular-season games remaining. WNCC will travel to Casper College on Tuesday before hosting McCook Community College on Thursday in sophomore recognition night at 6 p.m.
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WNCC downs NJC In five sets
October 21, 2019Karen Cordero pounded home 19 kills and the 16th-ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team needed five sets to get past Northeastern Junior College Monday night in PAWZitively Pink night at Cougar Palace. The Cougars won the first two sets with authority 25-15, 25-18, before watching NJC come back to win the next two 25-23, 25-14 to force a fifth set. The fifth set saw the Cougars pick up the energy and cruised to the 15-7 win to improve to 24-5 on the season while winning their 13th straight match.
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WNCC volleyball team captures 12th straight
October 20, 2019Karen Cordero finished with 21 kills and Leslie Mamai-Lagafuaina added 15 kills as the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team remained unbeaten in South conference action with a four-set 25-23, 25-18, 20-25, 25-20 win over Otero Junior College Saturday afternoon at Cougar Palace. WNCC moves to 23-5 on the season with their 12th straight win. The Cougars are now 6-0 in conference action, a full two games ahead of the second-place teams.
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WNCC volleyball picks up 11th straight win
October 19, 2019Leslie Mamai-Lagafuaina pounded down 16 kills and the 16th-ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team swept past Trinidad State Junior College 25-13, 25-14, 25-9 in a Region IX South Conference contest Friday night on Homecoming night at Cougar Palace. The win moves the Cougars to 22-5 overall and 5-0 in conference play. The win was WNCC’s 11th straight victory heading into a showdown with Otero Junior College Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. Otero comes into the contest second in the conference.
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WNCC volleyball sweeps McCook
October 12, 2019MCCOOK – The 17th-ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team swept through McCook Community College Friday night in south conference action with a 25-19, 25-12, 25-17 win. It was the Cougars' 21st win of the season as well as the 10th straight win. WNCC goes to 4-0 in conference play.
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WNCC tops LCCC in four for 20th win
October 09, 2019Western Nebraska Community College’s Karen Cordero and Gabriela Canavati combined for 39 kills and the 17th-ranked Cougar volleyball team won their 20th match of the season with a 23-25, 25-17, 30-28, 25-21 win over Laramie County Community College Tuesday evening at Cougar Palace. Cordero had a double-double on the night with 24 kills and 15 points while Canavati had 15 kills as the Cougars overcome a slow start to move to 20-5 on the season. It is the Cougars’ 22nd straight season with 20 or more wins. The win was also the Cougars ninth straight win.
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WNCC volleyball team sweeps through Lamar
October 06, 2019The No. 18 Western Nebraska Community College volleyball captured their 19th win of the season with a conference sweep over Lamar Community College 25-10, 25-7, 25-14 Saturday afternoon at Cougar Palace. The win was the Cougars eighth straight as they get ready to host Laramie County Community College on Tuesday. WNCC head coach Binny Canales said his team played well as all the players saw action.
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WNCC volleyball tops Trinidad for sixth straight win
September 28, 2019TRINIDAD, Colo. – Karen Cordero throws down 20 kills and the 19th-ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team captured its sixth straight win with a 25-12, 25-16, 22-25, 25-10 conference win over Trinidad State Junior College on Friday. The Cougars, 17-5, will continue with conference road wins on Saturday when they face Otero Junior College, who received votes in last week’s NJCAA national poll.
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WNCC volleyball team sweeps Otero
September 28, 2019LAJUNTA, Colo. – In the Western Nebraska Community College’s second conference match of the season, the 19th-ranked Cougars swept through Otero Junior College, who received votes in the latest NJCAA rankings, in thundering fashion 25-19, 25-21, 25-21. WNCC moves the Cougars to 18-5 on the season. It was their seventh straight win as they head into a match-up with No. 20 Northeastern Junior College on Friday at Cougar Palace in PAWzitively Pink night for breast cancer awareness.
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No. 19 WNCC tops Casper in four
September 25, 2019The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team won its fifth straight with a workmanlike win over Casper College Tuesday evening at Cougar Palace. WNCC, who entered the contest ranked 19th in the nation when the NJCAA polls came out on Monday, needed four sets to down a scrappy Casper squad 23-25, 25-11, 26-24, 25-18 to improve to 16-5 on th4e season.
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WNCC volleyball team goes 4-1 in WyoBraska Invite
September 23, 2019After falling to Salt Lake Community College on Thursday, the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team swept through their four opponents on Friday and Saturday to finish the WyoBraska Invite with a 4-1 record. The WNCC women finished the tourney with two impressive wins on Saturday, topping Colorado Northwestern 25-13, 25-14, 25-15 before capping off the weekend with a 25-20, 25-21, 25-15 sweep of Laramie County Community College.
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WNCC tops Sheridan, Midland in WyoBraska Invite
September 21, 2019The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team rebounded from its heartbreaking five-set loss to Salt Lake Community College on Thursday with a dominating performance in action on Friday in the WyoBraska Invite. The Cougars received 10 kills each from Karen Cordero and Leslie Mamai-Lagafuaina in sweeping past Sheridan College 25-9, 25-9, 25-13. The Cougars went 2-0 on the day with a 25-19, 25-15. 25-22 win over Midland College.
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WNCC falls in five-set heartbreaker to No. 13 Salt Lake
September 20, 2019The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team lost a heartbreaking five-set contest to No. 13 Salt Lake Community College in the first day of the WyoBraska Invite on Thursday at Cougar Palace. The Cougars controlled the contest early on, taking the first two sets 25-15, 25-23 while only trailing just twice in the sets. Salt Lake came storming back to grab the third set 25-18 and then held on for a 25-23 fourth set to force the deciding fifth set. The fifth set was a humdinger as the two teams that have been in the national spotlight for the past 20 years, battled back and forth before the Bruins came out on top 21-19 for the come-from-behind win.
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WNCC volleyball splits matches against two ranked teams
September 15, 2019STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team split a pair of matches in the second day of the Pizza Hut Invite in Sterling, Colorado, on Saturday. WNCC opened the day with an impressive sweep over Highland Community College 25-5, 25-22, 25-23 before falling to No. 20 Utah State University Eastern in four sets 25-16, 25-18, 20-25, 25-23. WNCC, 11-4, will return to action next week with the WyoBraska Invite where the Cougars will face top 10-ranked Salt Lake Community College on Thursday followed by two matches on Friday and Saturday.
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WNCC volleyball sweeps New Mexico JC, Sheridan
September 14, 2019STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team earned a pair of sweeps in the Pizza Hut Invite in Sterling, Colorado, on Friday. The Cougars opened play with a 25-20, 25-16, 25-23 win over New Mexico Junior College before wrapping up the day with a 25-16, 25-12, 25-18 win over Sheridan College. It was WNCC’s sixth straight win on the season moving the Cougars to 10-3 on the season.
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Beining pounds down 16 kills, leads Cougars to win over EWC
September 11, 2019The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball received 16 kills from Luisa Beining and the Cougars topped Eastern Wyoming College in four sets Tuesday night in 25-16, 26-24, 24-26, 25-21. The win was the Cougars eighth in the season and fourth straight win heading into the Pizza Hut Invite in Sterling, Colorado, this weekend. The Lancers suffered only their second loss of the season, both to WNCC, as they drop to 9-2. The Lancers will also be in action this weekend at the Pizza Hut Invite.
