Jaylen 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.
The reason she elected to come back for a third year was because of Kyana Gabriel and Dani Cruz, who both red-shirted in 2024-25 because of injuries. All three have been a part of the volleyball program the past three years.
"These three years have been super special, especially for us three being here. Each year has been very different," she said. "Another main reason why I cam back for my third year was because these two were going to be here, so it was super special. Even with the way that my personal season came out, I wouldn't have changed my decision, just because these two girls were here with me."
These three, which got nicknamed the Three Musketeers because of their three season at WNCC, came in together and they are leaving together. Nachtigall said she has grown a lot in her volleyball knowledge these past three years from Binny Canales her freshman year and the last two years under Fatima Balza.
"I think I have grown a lot. My volleyball knowledge has grown a lot as well," she said. "Throughout these last three years, just with all the injuries and adversity I had to go through, I feel like my mentality has skyrocketed a lot just with my competitive nature and being able to work through all of that and still being able to move on and want to continue playing volleyball."
Nachtigall said she learned from both her coaches at WNCC and she will learn even more from Doane head coach RanDee Ochinero.
"I think it (playing for two head coaches) helps just being able to adapt and know how to adapt to different styles. My freshman year we had Binny and again, I red-shirted that year, so I wasn't specifically coached by him, but I got to learn from him and see how he interacted with the girls," she said. "And then Coach Fati and a different atmosphere, so I think just being able to go to a new school, I should adapt well."
When she gets to Doane, which is located in Crete, Nebraska, she will be 7 ½ hours from home instead of just over two hours to Scottsbluff. She said she is ready for the move to a 4-year school.
"I think I am ready for the move, but my parents, not so much, but I have some family friends down there so it'll be good," she said.
The one thing she hopes to have is a full college season without the injuries that has plagued her three years at WNCC.
"I hope to accomplish a full season of volleyball," Nachtigall said. "A healthy season no matter what, if I'm playing a lot or not. I just want to be resent and be able to enjoy a season. And, also just get my bachelor's in psychology and start my career in life."
That is the type of person Nachtigall is, one that is a team player and going through all the adversity of injuries helped her realize how important it is to be a team player. Nachtigall said that is one thing that the injuries have taught her.
"So I've learned a lot and especially just learned a lot about myself, but also of how to be a good teammate, no matter my role on the court," she said. "And, through injuries, everyone's different no matter if it's the same injury that happens again or the other way. But, unfortunately, all of mine were season-ending injuries. So, it was just figuring out how to accept that and move on from it and become better because of it and not dwell on what's actually happening and be able to take the chance off the court to study what you can't necessarily focus on when you're not playing. So, (sitting the sidelines) is just being able to visualize a lot and see what works on the court and what doesn't, and I think that helps take you very far and in every sport."
Nachtigall is ready for Doane and to be the best teammate she can be, just like here.
"My role will be a six row outside hitter and then whatever else they need me or whatever opportunity comes up," she said. "I am going there in January and I'll do their spring season and then start next Fall. But, I will miss my girls."