Western Nebraska Community College's Maya Angelova and Charli Blackman came to the United States to play a sport they love. Now the two Cougars will be continuing their volleyball playing for another two years at NCAA Division II institutions in different states.

                Angelova, a 6-foot-3 middle hitter from Kustendil, Bulgaria, is headed to the big city of New York to attend Queens College located in Queens, New York. Blackman is staying a little closer to Nebraska as the 6-1 outside hitter from Auckland, New Zealand, will be taking her talents to the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota.

                Both are excited to continue their volleyball careers at the four-year level.

                "I choose Queens College in New York City because I like the coaches and they seemed really cool," Angelova said. "I haven't met the girls yet, but my family is very close there so I will be living close to them and I will be with cool coaches so hopefully the last two years is peaceful."

                Angelova started the recruiting process late and Queens was on the top of her list. She is excited to go back home, to where she grew up.

                "I talked to a couple of schools but there were two at the top of my list and Queens College stood out to me," she said. "I started my recruiting process in October which was later than Charli. But I found the place I want to be so I am happy with that."

                For Blackman, she started looking at colleges back in August and actually had a couple more visits to take after her trip to North Dakota. But, it was love at first sight when she went to the North Dakota school.

                "I am going to the University of Mary and I am going there because I fell in love with the coaches and the girls," she said. "I felt really at peace and at home there so I will spend my last two years there and I am really excited.

                Blackman said her time in the states is taking her to places she never expected to go.

                "I had no idea that I would end up in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, but I am very glad that I have taken this course," she said. "And, I did not expect to go to North Dakota of all places, but it is somewhere I can grow and develop more as a person and I am excited about that."

                Both players were part of a Region IX championship their freshman year when they went 34-5 and took sixth at the national tournament. This past season, the Cougars finished 16-18 on the season.

                What the two experienced here is more than just playing volleyball, they made friends for life.

                "I love my friends. They are my whole world and I am very grateful that I have met my best friends that will be a part of my life forever," Blackman said. "It was a massive change (when I came here) and the other New Zealand girl will back me that it was a really hard change and I think I have become a better person and got what I wanted out of this. I am very happy."

                Blackman said she might be leaving for North Dakota to play for two more years, but her friends she made here will always be in her heart.

                "I just don't want to think about that (leaving in May) because it will be very hard," she said. "I am staying somewhat close and these girls and I will stay in touch forever. I know I will see them again. I am excited to see where life takes me."

                Angelova said she will remember her teammates and friends as she gets ready to move on to the east coast to play volleyball for her last two years.

                "I learned a lot of things here and I had a lot of experiences. I am happy with what happened and happy that I choose to come here," she said. "I am happy that I will be able to play out my last two years of volleyball because I am stopping after Queens College. I have been doing this since I was 11, so I am stopping."

                But, she hated to admit it, her teammates have met a lot to her.

                "I mean I will miss everyone, but it is just another stage to move on," she said.

                Blackman said she is excited to continue playing and she has the dream to continue playing internationally, but she is ready to settle down after she finishes her schooling at the University of Mary and make a life for herself in the United States.

                "I am really excited and really grateful that I get to do these last two years playing what I love," she said. "I am very excited and blessed for this this opportunity because I know a lot can't do this. And I think that (playing international volleyball) would be cool to do, but I have met some amazing people here that I think I will try to start a life here in the US."