2025-26 WNCC Cougar Volleyball News
-
WNCC’s Gonzalez‑Orozco signs with Alaska Anchorage
April 29, 2026Western Nebraska Community College’s Alex Gonzalez‑Orozco has worn blue and gold for most of her volleyball career, from her days at Gering High School to two seasons with the Cougars. On Wednesday afternoon, the sophomore libero officially traded those colors for green and gold as she signed to continue her career at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Gonzalez‑Orozco becomes the fourth Cougar since 2008 to join the Seawolves, following Stacie Meisner (2006–07), Jodi Huddleston (2010–11), and Keala Kaio‑Perez (2014–15), continuing a long‑standing connection between the two programs. For Gonzalez‑Orozco, the decision came down to how she felt the moment she stepped on campus. “I really, really liked my visit there,” she said. “It felt like everyone truly cared about you as a person — not just as an athlete, but as a student too. All of the staff was really caring, and I could tell that they really cared about their students. And I really loved the campus and the gym. The gym was beautiful.” -
WNCC offering evening volleyball clinics, June basketball camps
March 31, 2026The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team is offering five evening volleyball clinics through the month of April for girls in elementary and middle school. The cost of each skills clinic is just $40 per camp and runs from 6-8 p.m. The skill camps will be instructed by WNCC coaches Fatima Balza and Jayla Brehmer along with the Cougar volleyball players. The first skills camp is slated for Thursday, April 2 and it will focus on basic skills with the main focus on serving.
-
Morrill's Katelyn Walker signs with WNCC volleyball
December 08, 2025Morrill’s Katelyn Walker has been a standout athlete for Morrill High School the last four years in three sports. Last week, the 5-foot-8 senior made it official when she announced that she will be playing volleyball at Western Nebraska Community College next year. “I picked WNCC because the girls are amazing and they’re super high energy and super fun and I love being fun and high energy, obviously, if you’ve watched me play, that’s kind of who I am, so I kind of wanted to go there,” Walker said at her signing press conference last week. “Coach B (Fatima Balza) is amazing. She is very experienced and she’s played DI volleyball and she knows volleyball. That is why I picked them because they’re just experienced and they know what is up. Also, it is close to home so everyone can come and watch. That is kind of what made me choose it.”
-
WNCC’s Nachtigall headed to Doane University
December 08, 2025Jaylen Nachtigall spent three seasons at Western Nebraska Community College playing volleyball and Monday afternoon she made it official as the first of several sophomores to continue their playing career at the 4-year level. Nachtigall signed Monday in front of her teammates as she is headed to NAIA Doane University to play volleyball and she will be enrolling in Doane in January. “I picked Doane because as soon as I stepped on campus, it just felt super homey and I felt like I fit in with the girls pretty easy,” Nachtigall said. “And, even at practice, I wasn’t able to practice yet because I wasn’t cleared, but the girls were super friendly and just felt like another WNCC; just everyone clicked really well. It was a pretty easy decision.” Nachtigall came to WNCC in 2023 but had to redshirt after sustaining an ACL injury in high school. Her first year back playing was in 2024-25 and as a red-shirt freshman, she tallied 42 kills before going down with another ACL injury. She then decided to come back for a third year and was having a good year until going down with a foot injury that sidelined her for the rest of the season.
-
WNCC's Cruz, Gabriel, Gonzalez-Orozco earn post season honors; Casper wins NW Plains B district title
November 09, 2025The Casper College and Central Wyoming College volleyball teams both had one goal in mind: earn a trip to the NJCAA national tournament that begins November 19 in Clarksville, Tennessee. That dream made the Northwest Plains B bracket championship match one that kept both teams’ fans on the edge of their seats as Casper won a heart-pounding five-setter 25-22, 18-25, 25-18, 18-25, 15-13 win over the Rustlers. Casper joins Northeastern Junior College, who won the Northwest Plains A Bracket championship Friday by downing Casper in three sets.
-
WNCC volleyball ends season, NJC wins Region IX title
November 07, 2025Northeastern Junior College captured the first of two Region IX titles Friday evening as they swept Casper College in straight sets 27-25, 25-9, 25-18 Friday at Cougar Palace. The second Region IX champion in the Northwest Plains B bracket will be decided Saturday afternoon and there are just three teams left. Saturday’s action at Cougar Palace begins at 11 a.m. as Laramie County Community College will battle Central Wyoming College. The winner of that contest will take on Casper at 4 p.m. for the other regional title and berth to the national tournament in Clarksville, Tennessee, and join NJC as the two teams from Region IX that automatically get berths. LCCC continued their season as they swept past North Platte Community College in the first match on Friday 25-17, 25-16, 25-18, while Central Wyoming had to fight hard to down WNCC 25-23, 25-21, 25-19 to advance.
-
WNCC falls to Casper in regional tourney, play Friday at 2:30 against Central Wyoming
November 06, 2025The first Region IX championship participants were revealed as Casper College and Northeastern Junior College secured their spots in the Northwest Plains A bracket with hard-fought semi-final wins Thursday at Western Nebraska Community College’s Cougar Palace. Casper earned the championship match trip with a 5-set thriller against Western Nebraska Community College, topping the Cougars 25-15, 22-25, 25-9, 18-25, 15-10. The Thunderbirds will face Northeastern Junior College, the No. 4 team in the nation. The Plainsmen needed four sets to get by North Platte Community College 25-19, 25-22, 23-25, 25-10. Casper and North Platte will play for the NW Plains A regional title at 5 p.m. at WNCC. The other games on Friday in the NW Plains B bracket, where the winner will also earn a regional title and advance to the national tournament will pit Laramie County Community College against North Platte at 12 noon and WNCC facing Central Wyoming College at 2:30 p.m.
-
WNCC downs LCCC in first day of regional tourney
November 05, 2025The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team received a double-doubles from Kyana Gabriel, Dani Cruz, and Natalia Nowak and the Cougars advanced to the semifinals of the Region IX Tournament with a 25-13, 19-25, 25-18, 25-19 win over Laramie County Community College Wednesday morning at Cougar Palace. In other first-round matches in the tournament at WNCC, North Platte Community College swept past Central Wyoming 25-16, 25-20, 25-22; Casper College topped Trinidad State College 25-13, 25-22, 25-20; and Northeastern Junior College defeated Gillette College 25-13, 25-9, 25-13. Thursday’s semifinals in the winner’s bracket will pit WNCC against Casper at 4:30 p.m. and North Platte against NJC at 7 p.m. The two semifinal winners will meet Friday at 5 p.m. for the first Region IX championship. The second elimination bracket on Thursday will have LCCC taking on Trinidad State at 11 a.m. and Central Wyoming facing Gillette at 1:30 p.m. Emma Hergenreder, who finished the LCCC match with 13 digs, eight service points, and two aces, said the team played well and were focused.
-
Region IX tournament pairings released for tournament held at WNCC this week
November 03, 2025The Region IX volleyball tournament pairings have been set for the tournament that begins Wednesday, November 5 at Western Nebraska Community College’s Cougar Palace. The battle to get into the tournament came down to the final weekend and Trinidad State College and Gillette College needed the tiebreaker formula to earn the fourth seeds from the North and South divisions to earn a trip to the tournament Action opens Wednesday morning when the host WNCC Cougars (south 2 seed with a 14-19 overall record) takes on the north 3 seed Laramie County Community College at 11 a.m. LCCC has a 17-12 overall record and lost the tiebreaker with Central Wyoming College for the second seed.
-
WNCC volleyball down Trinidad on sophomore day
October 29, 2025The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball dropped the first set and then responded by taking the next three in earning the 22-25, 25-22, 25-13, 25-18 conference win over Trinidad State College Friday at Cougar Palace on sophomore night. WNCC won their sixth straight match and move their record to 14-18 on the season. More importantly, the Cougars are guaranteed the second seed in the Region IX tournament which begins November 5 at Cougar Palace. WNCC is 11-2 in the conference with one conference game left when they travel to Northeastern Junior College on Wednesday. NJC is 12-0 in conference and 27-3 overall. The win was special for the team but it was more meaningful for the sophomores that were recognized after the game. Dani Cruz, one of those sophomores, said winning today was important as the team continues to gain steam for the regional tournament. “Winning today was really important; we’ve been building momentum for regionals and I believe that if we keep our level the same, regionals will be a success,” Cruz, who finished the match with 19 kills, said. “I think we were playing kind of flat that first set but then coach motivated us to play harder and more aggressive.”
-
WNCC volleyball team falls to No. 4 NJC
October 29, 2025STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team wrapped up the regular season falling to No. 4 Northeastern Junior College 25-11, 25-18, 25-16 Wednesday in Sterling, Colorado. The Cougars wrap up the regular season with a 14-19 overall record and 11-3 in the conference to earn the No. 2 seed from the South for the Region IX tournament that will be held at Cougar Palace beginning Wednesday, November 4. NJC earned the No. 1 seed from the South Conference with a 14-0 conference mark. WNCC will open the regional tournament at 11 a.m. on Wednesday and they will face the third seed from the North conference. NJC will play at 7 p.m. Wednesday against the North fourth seed.
-
WNCC volleyball down Trinidad State in four sets on Friday
October 24, 2025The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball dropped the first set and then responded by taking the next three in earning the 22-25, 25-22, 25-13, 25-18 conference win over Trinidad State College Friday at Cougar Palace on sophomore night. WNCC won their sixth straight match and move their record to 14-18 on the season. More importantly, the Cougars are guaranteed the second seed in the Region IX tournament which begins November 5 at Cougar Palace. WNCC is 11-2 in the conference with one conference game left when they travel to Northeastern Junior College on Wednesday. NJC is 12-0 in conference and 27-3 overall. The win was special for the team but it was more meaningful for the sophomores that were recognized after the game. Dani Cruz, one of those sophomores, said winning today was important as the team continues to gain steam for the regional tournament. "Winning today was really important; we've been building momentum for regionals and I believe that if we keep our level the same, regionals will be a success," Cruz, who finished the match with 19 kills, said. "I think we were playing kind of flat that first set but then coach motivated us to play harder and more aggressive."
-
WNCC volleyball team sweeps Otero for 13th win
October 23, 2025The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team pounded down 42 kills and hit .248 as the Cougars swept past Otero College 25-12, 25-22, 25-12 in claiming a conference win Thursday night at Cougar Palace. The win was a team effort as everyone that suited up saw action and every player sparked the team in some fashion. “Overall I think we stayed aggressive throughout the entire game tonight against Otero,” Alex Gonzalez-Orosco, who led the team with 11 digs, said. “Even though in the second set we let them catch up to us a bit we didn’t let that get to us and we still closed out that set. We knew what we needed to do to get it done and we did a good job of it.”
-
WNCC volleyball tops EWC in five sets
October 21, 2025Whenever Western Nebraska Community College and Eastern Wyoming College hook up for any competition, the one thing that is guaranteed is an intense battle. Tuesday night at Cougar Palace, the Cougars pounded down 55 kills and hit .209 for the match in earning a five-set thriller over the Lancers 25-17, 25-27, 25-21, 20-25, 25-4 to improve to 12-18 overall. EWC drops to 10-22 on the season. Nadiyyah Northern, the sophomore middle hitter from Arizona, tallied 12 kills on the night while hitting .562. Northern said it was a battle and her team played well to get the win over a scrappy EWC squad.
-
WNCC sweeps Lamar in conference action on Saturday
October 18, 2025LAMAR, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team received 10 kills from Dani Cruz and 10 service points from Emma Hergenreder as the Cougars swept Lamar Community College 25-15, 25-18, 25-18 Saturday on the road in a key conference contest. WNCC moves to 11-18 on the season but, more importantly, the Cougars are in second place in the South conference standings at 9-2 and a full two games ahead of Trinidad State (7-4) and three games ahead of McCook and North Platte (both at 6-5. The top four teams advance to the Region IX tournament that begins November 5 at WNCC’s Cougar Palace. The Cougars will have a full week of matches this week at home, including two key conference contests. The week begins with the Highway 26 non-conference battle between WNCC and EWC on Tuesday. That contest is WNCC Alumni Night with free admission for all the Cougar alumni.
-
WNCC volleyball downs McCook in four sets
October 14, 2025MCCOOK – Dani Cruz pounded down 14 kills and Natalia Nowak had 22 service points as the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team captured a key South Conference match over McCook Community College Tuesday in McCook. The scores were 11-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-12. The Cougars move to 10-18 overall and remain in second place in the conference with an 8-2 record. WNCC will be on the road Saturday for another conference game when they take on Lamar Community College. Maria Niedzwiecka, who tallied seven kills, three digs, two solo blocks, and five service points in the win, said it was a big win for the team.
-
WNCC volleyball sweeps Southeast on Saturday
October 11, 2025The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team utilized a team effort in sweeping past Southeast Community College 25-18, 25-19, 25-17 on Saturday in a Region IX South contest at Cougar Palace. The win moves the Cougars to 9-18 overall but more importantly to 7-2 in the South Conference. WNCC currently is in second to leading Northeastern Junior College, who is 9-0. The top four teams qualify for the Region IX tournament the first week in November, which will be held at Cougar Palace. Allie Twamley, the freshman setter from Cheyenne, Wyoming, said they did OK in the win as everyone that was suited up contributed in some fashion.
-
WNCC’s Gonzalez-Orozco named Region IX South Defensive Player of the Week
October 07, 2025Western Nebraska Community College volleyball libero Alex Gonzalez-Orozco was named the Region IX South Defensive Player of the Week for her play in helping the Cougars to a 2-1 record last week. Gonzalez-Orozco, a Gering High graduate, earned her second defensive player of the week honors on Monday.
-
North Platte downs WNCC in five sets
October 07, 2025North Platte Community College’s Khloee Wright pounded down 20 kills and the Knights won the fourth and fifth sets to defeat Western Nebraska Community College 25-22, 17-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-10 to earn the South Conference contest at Cougar Palace on Tuesday. Emma Hergenreder, who had a double-double in the contest with 10 digs, 13 points, and five aces, said her team started slow and couldn’t get the points when they needed. “We started out a little rough and we would be down and have to work our way back, but I thought we fought really well,” Hergenreder said. “North Platte is a good team and even though the game should have ended differently, I think we rallied back in several sets.” WNCC dropped the first set after leading 17-14 at one stage before North Platte earned the 25-22 win.
-
WNCC volleyball team tops Trinidad, Otero over the weekend
October 03, 2025The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team moved into sole second-place in the Region IX South conference standings after taking two games from Trinidad State College on Friday and then Otero College on Saturday on the road. On Friday, WNCC had three players with double-figure kills led by Kyana Gabriel with 13 kills in posting the 5-set win. The scores were 17-25, 25-21, 12-25, 25-21, 15-13. WNCC followed that up with a 4-set win over Otero in capturing the 25-20, 17-25, 25-17, 25-16 win. WNCC will look to stay in second place in the standings when they host two conference games this week. North Platte Community College comes to Cougar Palace on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. contest. Then Southeast Community College visits Cougar Palace on Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest.
-
WNCC volleyball falls short in five-setter against Casper
September 30, 2025It was an electric atmosphere at Cougar Palace Tuesday night as the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team faced No. 19 Casper College in a game that saw WNCC capture the first two sets before Casper won the final three, including a 21-19 fifth set to escape The Palace with a reverse-sweep victory. The scores of the match were 25-16, 25-16, 20-25, 20-25, 19-21. WNCC head coach Fatima Balza said it was a hard-fought match and what she was most proud of from her team was how they battled in the fifth set, falling behind 13-9 to force extra play. “It was a real exciting game. I think the first two games we stuck to the game plan,” Balza said. “We then lost control of ourselves and Casper was playing much better in not missing so many serves and making us earn every single point.
-
WNCC volleyball sweeps McCook on Saturday
September 27, 2025Dani Cruz hammered down 18 kills and the Western Nebraska Community College moved to second place in the South Conference with a straight-set win over McCook Community College 25-21, 25-20, 25-23 Saturday afternoon at Cougar Palace. Cruz, the red-shirt sophomore from Mexico, said this was an important game and the team responded. “I think we played really solid. I think everyone was doing their job and we stayed composed when under pressure and took advantage of the moments,” she said. “These two wins this weekend are really important because we started the season kind of rough and having this little streak of winning has been special for everyone. It just makes us feel more confident.”
-
WNCC volleyball sweeps Lamar
September 26, 2025The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team broke out their new white and light gray uniforms with Cougars down the side and the new uniforms paid off as the Cougars hit .391 for the game in earning a Region IX South Conference sweep over Lamar Community College on Friday at Cougar Palace. The scores were 22-9, 25-22, 25-14. The contest saw everyone contribute in some fashion and it was a game that saw plenty of highlights with 41 total kills, five aces, 34 set assists, and 38 digs. Anika Davison, who tallied six kills in the third set, said the team played well from the start with a few hiccups in the second set.
-
WNCC volleyball falls in four sets to No. 5 NJC
September 23, 2025The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team was finally at home for the first time this season on Tuesday and battled No. 5 Northeastern Junior College. In the end, the Plainswomen earned a four-set battle 25-23, 25-15, 19-25, 25-14. Kyana Gabriel, who led the team with 11 kills, said they competed but just came up short. “I think we were able to compete with NJC overall. I thought we did a pretty good job,” the red-shirt sophomore said. “But I definitely think we could have done a lot better.” The game was one where service runs was the key on both sides and NJC had one too many services runs that was the difference in the game. The big key, though, is how the Cougars hung in there, especially in the third set. Gabriel said it was important to win that third set and they did it with strong serving and timely hitting.
-
WNCC volleyball earns 5-set win over North Platte
September 19, 2025NORTH PLATTE – Kyana Gabriel tallied 19 kills and Emma Hergenreder had 14 service points with six aces as the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team moved to 2-0 in the South Conference with a 5-set win over North Platte Community College Friday evening in North Platte. The scores of the match were 20-25, 25-16, 15-25, 25-22, 15-9 as the Cougars move to 4-15 on the season. WNCC will next be in action at home as they host Northeastern Junior College on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Cougar Palace. Friday’s win was one where the Cougars hit .173 on the night and tallied 44 kills, 60 digs, served 13 aces, and had nine blocks. Gabriel led the way with 19 kills, six digs, six points and two assists; while Allie Twamley had seven kills, 27 set assists, 14 digs, and nine service points.
-
WNCC gets conference win over Southeast
September 18, 2025LINCOLN – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team had strong serving and blocking in earning a four-set win over Southeast Community College on Thursday in Lincoln the South conference opener. WNCC dropped set one 25-20 and then rebounded to take the next three sets 25-17, 25-20, 25-11 to earn the win over the Bobcats. WNCC, 1-0 in conference play and 3-15 overall, will continue the conference slate when they travel to face North Platte Community College on Friday before returning home for their home-opener on Tuesday against Northeastern Junior College with a first serve at 6 p.m. Thursday’s win was a battle early on with the Bobcats. WNCC trailed in the first set 20-13, but used a 6-point service run from Natalia Nowak to tie the set at 20. Southeast got a sideout and served the final five points for the 25-20 win.
-
WNCC drops contests at tourney in Sterling
September 12, 2025STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team attended the Sheila Worley Invitational in Sterling, Colorado, and faced three nationally ranked teams over the weekend. Despite playing tough in all four matches, the Cougars came up short in the matches. On Friday, the Cougars lost to New Mexico Junior College in four sets 20-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-14 and then fell to No. 7 Odessa College in four sets 21-25, 27-25, 25-15, 17-25. Saturday’s action saw the Cougars give No. 11 New Mexico Military all they could answer before falling in five sets 19-25, 25-17, 25-22, 24-26, 15-5. WNCC wrapped up the tourney in falling to No. 13 Colby Community College 25-20, 25-14, 25-19. WNCC, 2-15 on the season, will be back on the road this weekend when they open up South conference action with road trips to eastern Nebraska when they face Southeast Community College on Thursday and then North Platte Community College on Friday.
-
WNCC volleyball splits matches Saturday in Cheyenne
September 06, 2025CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team split a pair of matches on Saturday in the Region IX Crossover Classic in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on Saturday. After splitting contests on Friday, including picking up their first win of the season against Western Wyoming Community College, the Cougars opened Saturday play with a 4-set win over Northwest College 25-16, 21-25, 25-17, 25-21. WNCC ended the day getting swept by Laramie County Community College 25-11, 25-14, 25-20.
-
WNCC picks up win over Western Wyoming
September 05, 2025CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team finally captured their first win of the season with a dominating win over Western Wyoming Community College at the Region IX Crossover tourney in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on Friday. WNCC opened the tourney with a loss to Gillette College 25-23, 25-20, 25-20 as Dani Cruz had a double-double of 10 kills and 10 digs. WNCC followed that defeat with a commanding sweep of Western Wyoming 25-13, 26-24, 26-6. WNCC tallied 34 kills in the win while hitting .231. Cruz led the way with nine kills, 10 service points, and seven digs. Natalia Malinowska finished with 22 service points, five ace serves, and 24 assists.
-
WNCC plays well, but falls in 5-set thriller to Casper
September 02, 2025CASPER, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team have been road warriors so far this season and Tuesday night was no different as the Cougars traveled to Casper, Wyoming, to face Casper College on the road. The contest was a barn-burner as Casper came into the contest with a 7-1 record. The Cougars were one set away from capturing the win, but in the end, the T-Birds won the fourth and fifth sets in earning the 25-17, 13-25, 26-28, 25-14, 15-10 win. WNCC will have eight more matches on the road as they compete in the LCCC Region IX Challenge this weekend in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and then four more matches September 12-13 at the NJC Pizza Hut Classic. WNCC’s first home match, after 17 matches on the road, will be September 23 against Northeastern Junior College.
