The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team will be entering this weeks Region IX Volleyball Tournament in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with one goal in mind – to bring home a Region IX title and berth into the national tournament.
WNCC earned the second seed from the south conference and will play Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. against the north third seed Central Wyoming College. WNCC enters with a 26-8 record while Central Wyoming is 16-10 on the season.
The tournament will be played at the remodeled LCCC gym which is now called the Blue FCU RAC. LCCC is located on College Drive in Cheyenne.
WNCC sophomore Dessiah Christopher said they need to stay focused because every team wants that trophy.
"Regionals is when every team comes and fights to extend their season," the outside hitter from Florida, said. "No matter how their regular season went, they are still able to win a title. I want us to go in and play our best and win the tile then nationals."
WNCC and Central Wyoming met once this season on September 20 at Torrington, Wyoming, in the contest that went until 11 p.m. at night with the Cougars winning in five sets 22-25, 27-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-13.
To win at regionals, Christopher said it will take focus, determination, teamwork, and motivation. And, as for Central Wyoming, they need to worry about their side of the court.
"Every team has changed to much throughout the season so I do not know how they play now," she said. "No matter what team we play, I just want to play our best."
If the Cougars win, they would play the winner of the McCook Community College and Eastern Wyoming College contest on Thursday at 7 p.m. McCook is the South 4 seed while EWC is the North 1 seed. A loss in the first round drops the Cougars to the second regional bracket and will play the loser of the McCook/EWC game at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The other side of the bracket for first-round contests on Wednesday will pit South 3 Trinidad State College against North 2 Western Wyoming Community College at 11 a.m. while North 4 Laramie County Community College plays South 1 Northeastern Junior College at 4:30 p.m. The winners and losers will play Thursday from that side.
The first championship game is slated for Friday at 5 p.m. with the winner earning the Northwest Plains A district/region championship.
The second championship game will be played Saturday at 4 p.m. with the winner earning the Northwest Plains B district/region championship. Both champions to the NJCAA national tournament November 20-23 in at Austin Peay University in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Tournament Schedule
@ Cheyenne, Wyoming
Wednesday, November 6
11 a.m. – Trinidad vs. Western Wyoming
1:30 p.m. – WNCC vs. Central Wyoming
4:30 p.m. – NJC vs. LCCC
7 p.m. – EWC vs. McCook
Thursday, November 7
11 a.m. – NJC/LCCC and Trinidad/WWCC losers
1:30 p.m. – WNCC/CWC and McCook/EWC losers
4:30 p.m. --- NJC/LCCC and Trinidad/WWCC winners
7 p.m. -- WNCC/CWC and McCook/EWC winners
Friday, November 8
12 p.m. – Th. 11 a.m. winner vs. Th. 7 p.m. loser
2:30 p.m. – Th. 2:30 p.m. winner vs. Th. 4:30 p.m. loser
5 p.m. – First Championship Game
Saturday, November 9
11 a.m. – Winners from Friday, 12 and 2:30 p.m. contests
4 p.m. – Second championship game (11 a.m. winner vs. Fri., 5 p.m. loser)