After a little over three months after the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball last played in April at the NJCAA national tournament, the team is back on the court for their first practice for next season.

                WNCC, who went 27-7 a year ago and won the Region IX tournament, return six players from a year ago and have another 12 talented newcomers that are ready to make some noise this season.

                “It feels really good to be back to see everyone and to see all the freshman,” returner Angel Nahimu said. “Just from the first practice I can tell we will have a really great amazing season. We have a lot of good freshmen and talented sophomores.”

                The one thing not lacking on this team is numbers. The Cougars six returners saw action a year ago, but they will be pushed by the incoming players. Nahimu said everyone on the team is capable of playing.

                “I would say there is a lot of talent on this team,” the middle hitter from Hawaii said. “There is talent from every single person on the team and definitely we can make it as far as nationals and even win nationals if we play hard enough and train hard enough.”

                The newcomers really fit in well to the team right know. Ogallala’s Jenna Curtis, who has played in a number of all-star volleyball games over the summer including being named the MVP of the West Nebraska All-Star Volleyball match in June, said the first practice Monday went OK.”

                ““it is fun and exciting to be able to know everybody and finally get back at it this fall,” Curtis said. “The first practice was good and fun. It was a lot of work, but I think we are ready.”

                The roster will look a little strange with all the players listed as freshman because last spring’s season didn’t count on the player’s athletic eligibility. But, academically, there are six sophomores. Those six Macey Boggs, 5-8 setter, and Ellie Winkler, 5-10 outside hitter, both from Gering; Angel Nahinu, 5-10 middle hitter of Kapolei, Hawaii; Holleigh Jaime, 5-3 libero of Soldoma, Alaska; Hyleigh Fornstrom, 6-0 middle hitter from Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, and Mariah Fukumoto, 5-7 libero from Mililani, Hawaii.

                The true freshmen or newcomers to the program include three from Nebraska and nine others from Italy, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Hawaii.

                The Nebraskans on the roster include Jayla Brehmer, a 5-10 hitter from Rushville, Jenna Curtis, a 5-10 hitter from Ogallala, and Sage Rummel, a 5-1 libero from Gurley.

                The two from Italy are Erica Fava, a 5-10 hitter from Placenza and Alessandra Meoni, a 5-11 rightside hitter from Padova. Meoni graduated from a high school in Houston, Texas.

                The Brazilians on the team include Juliana Oliveira, a 6-0 hitter from Ribocoe Pouto, Julia Moccellin, a 5-9 setter from Rio de Janeiro, and Laura Milori, a 5-10 hitter from Sao Carlos.

                The Hawaiians include Tiani Madriaga, a 5-6 libero from Kapolei, Hawaii, and Alexis Keoho, a 5-6 libero from Hauula.

                Other newcomers include Andrea Sanjurjo, a 5-10 hitter from Carolina, Puerto Rico, and Anakaren Chavez, a 5-3 defensive specialist from Laredo, Texas.

                Curtis said the talent on this team is unreal and is excited to see where this team will go.

                “Everyone has so much skill here, it is incredible,” Curtis said. “Everyone is talented, and everyone knows what to do. It is fun to have a team like that unlike high school ball.”

                WNCC will have three weeks of two-a-days before classes begin. The Cougars’ first competition will be August 14 when they compete in a scrimmage tournament in Windsor, Colorado, and face four Region IX schools.

                The Cougars open the season August 20-21 when they compete in the Reiver Invite at Iowa Western Community College. The Cougars will face Jefferson College and NJCAA national champions Iowa Western on Friday and Butler and Indian Hills on Saturday. WNCC’s first home contest will be Sept. 7 when they host Eastern Wyoming College. WNCC will also host the Region IX tournament Nov. 2-6 with the winner advancing to the national tournament Nov. 11-13 in Hutchinson, Kansas.