Western Wyoming Volleyball

Arielle Allen Chooses West Virginia

2012-01-03T10:46:00.004-07:00

Arielle Allen came to Western Wyoming Community College in the Spring of 2010 looking to chase a dream. A dream to play NCAA Division 1 volleyball. Coming off a knee surgery during her senior season of basketball, Allen chose to attend Utah State University with a hope of walking on to the volleyball team once healthy. All of those plans changed due to a co-ed volleyball tournament being held just before Thanksgiving in 2009.

Allen was playing with some former Utah State players every week in Logan and they decided to invite her to play in the Tough Turkey Tournament held in Green River, WY. While competing at the tourney, Allen's team competed against a team with head coach Rick Reynolds on it. General conversation led to her and her family visiting campus two weeks later. Allen, a NJCAA and AVCA 2nd Team All-American, chose to come in the spring of 2010 and has been an instrumental part in leading the Mustangs to back-to-back top three finishes at the NJCAA National Championship the last two seasons.

This success led her to receive multiple offers from Division I and II teams from across the country. She narrowed her choices down and visited four schools--University of Montana, University of Louisiana, West Virginia University, and Texas State University. On the day before Christmas, Allen called Mountaineer head coach Jill Kramer to let her know she wanted to come to Morgantown.

"Arielle has accomplished so much at Western Wyoming on and off the court," stated Reynolds. "I am thankful for her believing in this program and the opportunities she was given due to the work her and her teammates put in to achieve success. This is one of the reasons we coach at the two-year college level. To help players achieve goals many thought impossible coming out of high school.”

For more information, there are additional articles available on the Rocket Miner website and West Virginia Athletics site.

Mustangs Make the Grade

2011-12-20T16:22:00.002-07:00

The 2011 Western Wyoming Community College Mustang volleyball team not only finished 2nd at the NJCAA National Championship, they produced in the classroom all fall as well. The 17 Mustangs posted a combined 3.6 GPA.

Leading the charge were six players who made the President's Honor Roll with a 4.0 GPA. Seven Mustangs made the Dean's Honor Roll for having over a 3.25 GPA, four had over a 3.75.

"This is a great accomplishment for this team," head coach Rick Reynolds stated. "They should be proud of their achievements in the classroom. It shows they buy in to what we want them to accomplish when they chose to be Mustang; to become the best person, student, and athlete they can while at Western Wyoming."

The Mustangs finished last year with a 3.45 GPA combining the fall and spring GPA's. Their GPA won the team a NJCAA Academic Team Award and placed them 8th out of all the NJCAA volleyball teams.

"I look forward to challenging the team to uphold this standard in the spring semester and finishing near the top of the NJCAA academically," Reynolds said.

SEASON REVIEW

2011-12-12T08:15:00.002-07:00

2011 Western Wyoming Community College Season Review

Season Record - 39-3
Region IX North Record - 14-0
Region IX North Tournament Record - 4-0
Region IX North Tournament Champions
WCCAC Regular Season Champions
NJCAA National Championship Record - 3-1
NJCAA National Championship 2nd Place
Record Against NJCAA Top 20 - 15-3

Season Awards

NJCAA National Awards

All-Americans
Makayla Keck—1st Team All-American
Olivera Medic—1st Team All-American
Arielle Allen—2nd Team All-American

NJCAA District I Coach of the Year
Rick Reynolds

NJCAA National Championship All-Tournament Team
Makayla Keck
Olivera Medic
Cori Perrault

American Volleyball Coaches Association Awards
Makayla Keck—1st Team All-American
Olivera Medic—1st Team All-American
Arielle Allen—2nd Team All-American

Region IX North Awards

All Region Team
Olivera Medic
Makayla Keck
Arielle Allen
Viktorija Teivane
Cori Perrault

Region Player of the Year
Olivera Medic

Region Setter of the Year
Makayla Keck

Region IX North Coach of the Year
Rick Reynolds

Region IX North All-Tournament Team
Makayla Keck
Olivera Medic
Jocelyn Ostermiller
Viktorija Teivane

Wyoming Community College Athletic Association Awards

1st Team All Conference
Olivera Medic
Makayla Keck
Arielle Allen
Viktorija Teivane

Honorable Mention All Conference
Cori Perrault

Conference Player of the Year
Olivera Medic

AVCA Names Three Mustangs All-American

2011-12-09T09:59:00.003-07:00

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released its 2011 All-American teams and three Western Wyoming Community College Mustangs were listed. Makayla Keck and Olivera Medic were 1st Team and Arielle Allen was on the 2nd Team.

"The awards continue to come in for our team and it is really exciting to see our players rewarded for their success on the court," head coach Rick Reynolds said. "We always discuss that the better our team does on the court, the more likely we are to receive individual awards. Each of these students has done an amazing job of representing WWCC and it is good to see them rewarded for their play on the court."

"The AVCA has done a great job of creating an awards program to emphasize academic and athletic achievement in the sport of volleyball," stated Reynolds when asked about the AVCA awards. "Our goal every year with the Mustang program is to have a 3.3 GPA because of the AVCA Award. It is our benchmark. I am appreciative of their emphasis of both on and off the court achievement."

Keck, Medic, and Allen received All-American recognition from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) last week. The Mustangs finished the season 39-3 and 2nd at the NJCAA National Championship.

For a complete list of the AVCA Awards, please visit the AVCA Website.

City of Rock Springs Proclaims December 7th WWCC Mustang Volleyball Day

2011-12-07T13:15:00.002-07:00

At the December 6, 2011 meeting of the Rock Springs City Council, the 2011 Western Wyoming Community College Mustang volleyball received a proclamation from Mayor Carl Demshar declaring December 7, 2011 as WWCC Mustang Volleyball Day.

For more information, visit City of Rock Springs website.

Friesen Commits to Tiffin University in Ohio

2011-12-07T08:53:00.005-07:00

Brooke Friesen, a 6' sophomore outside hitter from Davison, MI, has committed to play for the Dragons of Tiffin University in Tiffin, OH. Friesen joins a team coming off a 7-21 season under the direction of second year head coach Dana Cordova.

The Dragons are getting a quality person, student, and athlete according to Mustang head coach Rick Reynolds. "Brooke has been great for our program. From day one she has given us her best in everything and her passion to compete and leadership will be missed. She played a great role for our team on and off the court and was always ready for the next challenge. Tiffin will be happy they have added Brooke to their gym as she will bring a strong work ethic, leadership, willingness to be coached, and an understanding of what it takes to be successful."

Friesen played the last two seasons for the Mustangs and helped guide them to a second place finish at the 2011 NJCAA National Championship in West Plains, MO. For her career, she hit .202, averaged 2.3 kills per set, and 1.36 digs.

Friesen stated, "I loved everything about Western Wyoming. The entire school, the people, the involvement of faculty, staff, and students, our crowds and support were amazing."

She is looking forward to going to Tiffin. "Tiffin is close to home and it felt a like a positive place to continue my career. I really enjoyed the team, the small town atmosphere, and the family feeling within the team and school."

Friesen said she learned a lot as a Mustang. "I learned it does not matter what role you play, you are still a part of the team. How hard you work when no one is looking is what can take you places and always value the little things. You can achieve your wildest dreams and biggest goals if you attack them with the right attitude, great communication, and a lot of effort."

Sadie Plemel Commits to Mustangs

2011-12-03T10:14:00.002-07:00

Sadie Plemel, a senior at Rock Springs High School, has committed to play at Western Wyoming Community College.

The Rocket Miner, the local newspaper, has a great article. Click on the link to read about Sadie and her commitment.

Rocket Miner

Three Mustangs Named All American by NJCAA

2011-12-02T14:59:00.003-07:00

The 2011 NJCAA All-American lists were released and the Western Wyoming Community College Mustangs were well represented. Arielle Allen, Makayla Keck, and Olivera Medic received recognition from the NCAA Division I Volleyball Committee.

Keck and Medic were named to the First Team. Allen was recognized on the Second Team. For Medic, this is her second First Team award as she was named for her efforts in 2010.

"This is an amazing honor for our program," head coach Rick Reynolds stated. "Never in our wildest dreams when we started practice did we think we would be receiving this type recognition. This team has believed in each other, work hard on and off the court, and bought in to the Mustang Way. It is because of this we receive these individual awards. I am proud of each of these individuals and thankful for the opportunity to be in their lives the last two years."

All three players were named to the Region IX North All Region Team at the end of the regular season, along with Cori Perrault and Viktorija Teivane. Medic was the Region IX North Player of the Year. Keck was the Region IX North Setter of the Year.

The Mustangs finished the season with a 39-3 record.

Five Mustangs Named to All Region Team

2011-11-30T08:56:00.002-07:00

The 2011 Region IX North Awards were handed out and Western Wyoming Community College made its presence felt. The Mustangs placed five players on the All Region Team.

Leading the charge was 2010 Player and Freshman of the Year Olivera Medic who was picked by the coaches to be the 2011 Player of the Year. Medic posted 459 kills on the season and picked up 499 digs. Her 3.91 kills per set average places her eighth in the NJCAA stat rankings.

Makayla Keck was named Setter of the Year. Keck dished out 1360 assists in 123 sets for an 11.05 assist per set average, first in the nation.

Arielle Allen, Viktorija Teivane, and Cori Perrault were all named to the All Region Team. Allen had 282 kills and hit .259 on the season. She added 91 blocks. Teivane put down 303 kills and hit .239 on the season. She also picked up 366 digs and 59 aces for 19th in the NJCAA. Perrault dug up 514 balls this season. The heart of the defense and serve receive also had 36 aces.

Medic, Teivane, and Perrault picked up All Region awards in 2010.

Mustangs Finish 2nd at NJCAA National Championship

2011-11-29T14:57:00.002-07:00

The 2011 Western Wyoming Community College volleyball season came to an end on Saturday, November 19th in West Plains, MO in the NJCAA National Championship game. The Mustangs battled with the Buccaneers of Blinn College for four sets with BC taking the game 25-19, 25-22, 23-25, 25-23.

Western Wyoming was led by Olivera Medic who put down 15 kills, while Jocelyn Ostermiller and Viktorija Teivane had 13 and 10 respectively. Makayla Keck led the offense with 46 assists. Medic posted a double-double by picking up 21 digs. Cori Perrault dug out 17 balls while Teivane also had a double-double with 16 digs.

The Mustangs finished the season with a 39-3 record. The 39 wins is the second most in school history following 2010's total of 40. The .928 winning percentage is the highest in school history.

Game vs. Laramie County CC 9/10/11

2011-09-12T19:19:00.004-06:00

Game Recap

Scores: 25-10, 25-8, 25-10

Kills: Arielle Allen - 7

Assists: Makayla Keck - 23

Digs: Cori Perrault - 12

Blocks: Jocelyn Ostermiller - 6, Allen - 3

Aces: Viktorija Teivane - 4

Team Kills - 28

Team Hitting Percentage - .344

Team Digs - 39

Team Blocks - 12

Team Aces - 8

Game vs. Eastern Wyoming College 9/9/11

2011-09-12T19:16:00.003-06:00

Game Recap

Scores: 25-16, 25-17, 21-25, 25-17

Kills: Olivera Medic - 14

Assists: Makayla Keck - 47

Digs: Cori Perrault - 17, Medic - 10

Blocks: Arielle Allen - 4, Jocelyn Ostermiller - 3, Medic - 3

Aces: Makayla Keck - 5

Team Kills - 56

Team Hitting Percentage - .306

Team Digs - 54

Team Blocks - 10

Team Aces - 6

Game vs. #10 Eastern Arizona College 9/3/11

2011-09-12T19:12:00.003-06:00

Game Recap

Scores: 25-19, 25-18, 25-21

Kills: Olivera Medic - 14, Arielle Allen - 8

Assists: Makayla Keck - 34

Digs: Cori Perrault - 17, Medic - 14

Blocks: Allen - 6, Medic - 3

Aces: Susan Lindley - 2

Team Kills - 36

Team Hitting Percentage - .225

Team Digs - 62

Team Blocks - 7

Team Aces - 6

Game vs. # 24 Snow College 9/3/11

2011-09-12T19:09:00.003-06:00

Game Recap

Scores: 22-25, 25-18, 25-14, 25-17

Kills: Olivera Medic - 19, Arielle Allen - 14

Assists: Makayla Keck - 39

Digs: Cori Perrault - 16, Viktorija Teivane - 15, Medic - 13, Keck - 11

Blocks: Jocelyn Ostermiller - 3, Teivane - 3

Aces: Perrault - 3, Medic - 3

Game vs. #17 North Idaho 9/2/11

2011-09-12T10:19:00.002-06:00

Game Recap

Scores: 24-26, 25-10, 25-20, 25-23

Kills: Olivera Medic - 14, Alise Larsen - 11

Assists: Makayla Keck - 47

Digs: Medic - 11, Cori Perrault - 9

Blocks: Jocelyn Ostermiller - 3

Aces: Viktorija Teivane - 8

Game vs. USU Eastern 9/2/11

2011-09-12T09:34:00.002-06:00

Game Recap

Scores: 25-12, 25-18, 25-23

Kills: Olivera Medic - 12, Arielle Allen - 9, Viktorija Teivane - 8, Alise Larsen - 7

Assists: Makayla Keck- 40

Digs: Cori Perrault - 9, Medic - 8

Blocks: Jocelyn Ostermiller - 4, Larsen - 2, Allen - 2, Keck - 2, Teivane - 2

Aces: Teivane - 2, Perrault - 2

Game vs. Colorado Northwestern CC 8/30/11

2011-09-12T09:32:00.002-06:00

Game Recap

Scores: 25-17, 25-7, 25-18

Kills: Larissa Reynolds - 6

Assists: Alexis Strom - 19, Makayla Keck - 10

Digs: Susan Lindley - 6

Blocks: Hannah Schorr - 2

Aces: Viktorija Teivane - 2, Cori Perrault - 2

Game vs. #17 North Idaho College 8/27/11

2011-09-12T09:29:00.002-06:00

Game Recap

Scores: 25-22, 25-16, 28-26

Kills: Olivera Medic - 13, Arielle Allen - 11

Assists: Makayla Keck - 40

Digs: Cori Perrault - 16, Medic -13, Kara Cotter - 9

Blocks: Allen - 3

Game vs. USU Eastern 8/27/11

2011-09-12T09:24:00.002-06:00

Game Recap

Scores: 25-17, 25-20, 19-27

Kills: Olivera Medic - 10, Viktorija Teivane - 6, Kara Cotter - 5

Assists: Makayla Keck - 35

Digs: Cori Perrault - 13, Medic - 8

Blocks: Jocelyn Ostermiller - 4, Keck - 2

Aces: Medic - 4, Teivane - 3

Game vs. #24 Snow College 8/26/11

2011-09-12T09:19:00.005-06:00

Game Recap

Scores: 22-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-15

Kills: Olivera Medic - 16, Arielle Allen - 10, Viktorija Teivane - 10

Assists: Makayla Keck - 45

Digs: Cori Perrault - 18, Medic - 14, Teivane - 12, Kara Cotter - 9

Aces: Medic - 2

Game vs. Carroll College 8/26/11

2011-09-12T09:13:00.003-06:00

Game Recap

Score: 26-24, 25-21, 26-24

Kills: Jocelyn Ostermiller - 13, Olivera Medic - 13, Viktorija Teivane - 12, Candace Clifford - 9

Assists: Makayla Keck - 41

Digs: Medic - 13, Teivane - 13, Cori Perrault - 10, Susan Lindley - 9

Blocks: Medic - 3, Clifford - 2, Hannah Schorr - 2

Aces: Teivane - 3, Perrault - 2

2011 Season Outlook

2011-08-19T14:52:00.001-06:00

2011 Western Wyoming Volleyball Outlook

Expect More, Give More

The 2011 Western Wyoming Community College volleyball team enters the season with expectations at an all-time high. The Mustangs are ranked #3 in the NJCAA Preseason Top 25 National Poll. Rick Reynolds, entering his 4th year as head coach, returns five starters and a total of 12 sophomores from the 2010 team that finished 3rd at the NJCAA National Championship. The Mustangs have five newcomers who joined in the quest to bring continued success to Rushmore Gymnasium.

With so many returners, Reynolds is excited for the challenge of defending the Region IX North Championship. “It is exciting to have a lot of players who experienced last year’s success return. This experience should be beneficial but our goal is not to live off of last year’s team. We have to build our own dreams and earn our own respect,” Reynolds stated. “This team is totally different and it is important they take control early and keep their minds focused on the process we have to go through to earn respect and achieve our goals.”

Preseason Notes

Setters—Makayla Keck returns to lead the Mustangs at the setter position after a freshman season that saw her compile 349 assists, 23 aces (.62 per set), and 88 digs. Her knowledge and experience of the offense and players should be beneficial. Alexis Strom has joined the Mustangs this fall to work with Keck in leading the offense. Strom knows how to win, is very savvy, and is known for being a gym rat. This work ethic will be a great addition to the program.

Liberos—Cori Perrault and Kortnie Christiansen return for the Mustangs at the libero position. Perrault, widely considered the best libero in Region IX North and the heart of the defense, had 592 digs last season to finish 14th in the NJCAA. Christiansen is a great leader who played in a defensive specialist role for much of the season finished 92 digs in 42 sets played.

Outside Hitters— Candace Clifford, Kara Cotter, Brooke Friesen, Olivera Medic, and two freshmen, Alise Larsen and Larissa Reynolds, will compete for time on the left. Depth and competition are important and at this key position, the Mustangs may be as deep as anyone in the country. Medic, a 1st Team NJCAA All-American in 2010, returns after pounding out 425 kills, 14th most in the NJCAA, and 470 digs, 37th most in the NJCAA. Cotter returns after posting 274 kills and 364 digs. Clifford returns healthy and Friesen had a great spring and both should bring a lot of competition to the gym. Freshmen Larsen and Reynolds bring a lot of high level club experience and a tremendous amount of athleticism to the outside hitters. Both are expected to push for playing time immediately.

Right Side Hitters— Susan Lindley and Viktorija Teivane are returning on the right side and provide the team with a lot of stability. Teivane looks to build off a season where she put down 325 kills and dug up 368 balls. Lindley returns as one of the top players off the bench in 2010 with 74 kills and 96 digs. The competition for playing time should be exciting all fall. Adding freshman Nicole Soifua only raises the level of competition. Her blocking, hitting, and raw athleticism should allow Soifua to make an immediate impact in practice and in games.

Middles—Arielle Allen, Jocelyn Ostermiller, and Breonna Phillips all will compete for time at the middle position. Allen returns after collecting 230 kills and 127 blocks, 18th most in the NJCAA. Ostermiller provided depth in 2010 but will be expected to take on a bigger role in 2011 after making great strides in the spring during competition. Phillips is coming off an injury that held her out of spring practice. Her experience from last fall and her competitive spirit will be beneficial for her as she competes for time in 2011. Hannah Schorr is an athletic middle who joins the Mustangs this fall. She should compete for playing time right off the bat and will definitely raise the level of play in Rushmore.

Quotes on the Upcoming Season from Head Coach Rick Reynolds

Outlook for the 2011 season…
“Our goals for this season are the same they have been since I took this position; win the Region IX North Championship and maintain a team GPA of 3.3. With the experience we have returning and the players we have added for this fall, I believe we have the ability to accomplish both of our goals. This program has a chance to become someone teams recognize as one of the best year in and year out. This expectation means we have to continue to work hard and prepare to earn respect every day. The challenge is exciting and I think this team will rise to that challenge.”

On the goal of winning the Region IX North Championship…
“I set this goal for our team every year and it was exciting to accomplish it last year. I believe we have the talent and resources here to achieve this goal every year. The level of competition has risen in Region IX in the three seasons I have been at Western Wyoming. Two of the top three finishers at the NJCAA National Championship were from Region IX. That had never happened before. We have had some turnover in our coaching ranks this season in the North but I do not think that will change the direction the region is going. The success has brought some strong coaches into the region and it will be a tough battle this season. We will prepare as hard as we can to be ready for it.”

On the expectations of the 2011 Mustangs…
“This is a really experienced squad. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. The good is they know what it takes to be successful. The bad is they experienced so much success young and have the potential to relax a little. One of my goals is to remind them daily that this team has not accomplished anything yet. It is important they go out and earn respect and prove the 2011 Mustangs are a team willing to pay to price to succeed. I am really excited about the potential we have but it’s just that potential. As one of the quotes we are using states, ‘Expect more, Give more;’ the expectations are higher and so is how much we have to give to become who we want to be.”

Mustangs Sit #3 in Preseason Top 25 NJCAA National Poll

2011-08-04T09:13:00.003-06:00

Western Wyoming Community College volleyball has been voted #3 in the NJCAA Preseason Top 25 National Poll. This is the highest ever ranking for the Mustangs in the preseason poll.

"This is a great honor for our program but it is more of a reflection of what we accomplished in 2010," 4th year head coach Rick Reynolds said while discussing the preseason rankings. "To be ranked adds some excitement to the gym and as long as we realize we have to earn that ranking this year, it should be a good thing. The 2010 team earned a lot of respect for the Western Wyoming program and it is up to future teams to continue build upon that rather than expect success to come because of it."

Region IX South Sub-Region member Western Nebraska Community College tops the rankings after winning the National Championship in 2010. Miami-Dade College, coming off a 35-2 season, begins the season at #2. Iowa Western Community College and College of Southern Idaho round out the top five.

The Mustangs are coming off winning their 3rd Region IX North title in seven years and posting the best season in school history. Expectations are high and Reynolds says it will not change how the team prepares for 2011.

"To be mentioned with traditional powers like Miami-Dade, Southern Idaho, Salt Lake, and Western Nebraska is special but it is not the goal. Our goals are the same this year as they have been since I took this job; win the Region IX North tournament and have a 3.3 team GPA. We have put the success of 2010 behind us. The 2011 team now has to work hard and earn respect."

For a complete list of the NJCAA Preseason Top 25 National Poll, please visit the NJCAA website.

Incoming Freshman: Soifua Chooses Mustangs

2011-08-02T15:50:00.004-06:00

Nicole Soifua, a 6-0 right side hitter from West Point, UT, has signed to play volleyball at Western Wyoming Community College. Soifua, a recent graduate of Syracuse High School, joins the 2011 Mustangs after spending this spring playing her club volleyball for Utah Juniors Volleyball Club.

"Nicole was one of the first recruits we targeted for this recruiting year and we are excited she decided to choose Western Wyoming to continue her education and athletic career. Her blocking and high contact point offensively set her apart from others we considered," head coach Rick Reynolds discussed recently when describing the incoming recruits. "She will make an immediate impact in our gym in how we train and prepare for opponents. Nicole provides us the ability to simulate some of the better blocking teams we will face. I look forward to watching her grow and compete in our gym."

Soifua will join her teammates for the first time this weekend when the team reports for preseason. The Mustangs take the court for the first time on August 26th in Twin Falls, ID.

Incoming Freshman: Wyoming State Champion Lexi Strom Brings Experience to Mustangs

2011-08-01T08:40:00.004-06:00

Lexi Strom, a 5-6 setter from Casper, WY, has committed to play volleyball at Western Wyoming Community College. Strom, captain of her high school team Casper Kelly Walsh, brings a lot of winning experience with her after helping guide her 2010 team to the Wyoming High School Activities Association 4A State Championship.

"Lexi is a great addition to our program. She is very competitive and has great knowledge of how to run an offense," Rick Reynolds stated while discussing what Strom brings to the Mustang program. "She believes in hard work and will fit right in with what we are trying to build here. I am excited to see her in the gym with the team and watch her and Makayla (Keck) work together to fine tune our offense."

The All State setter joins a Mustang team coming off a 3rd Place finish at the NJCAA National Championship in 2010 and will be looking to build on that success in 2011. Preseason practices start August 6th with the first game of the season on August 26th in Twin Falls, ID.

Incoming Freshman: Schorr Brings Athleticism to 2011 Mustangs

2011-07-29T12:54:00.005-06:00

The 2011 version of Western Wyoming Community College volleyball team has added middle blocker Hannah Schorr. Schorr, standing 5-11, is from Uintah, UT and played for Bonneville High School. This spring she played for Utah Ice Volleyball Club.

"Hannah is a superior athlete who will make an immediate impact on our middle position. The competition for playing time at this position will be intense this fall," commented Rick Reynolds. "I am excited to have Hannah. She received several four-year college offers and chose to help us achieve our goals. Her athleticism and skills make her a great asset for our program."

The 2011 season gets underway soon with the Mustangs travelling to Twin Falls, ID for the Southern Idaho Invitational. For an updated roster and schedule for the season, please visit the links on the blog.

Incoming Freshman: Mustangs Add Larissa Reynolds for Fall 2011

2011-07-27T10:01:00.008-06:00

The Western Wyoming Community College volleyball team has added Larissa Reynolds for the upcoming season. Reynolds is a 5-9 outside hitter from South Weber, UT. She played for Northridge High School, the same high school as current Mustang Candace Clifford.

"We are excited to have Larissa joining our program. She is a great fit for our program academically and athletically," says head coach Rick Reynolds. "Larissa will bring a lot of athleticism and experience to our left side hitter position. Her determination to succeed both on and off the court will be a valuable asset to Mustang Volleyball."

This past spring and summer, Reynolds helped her club team, Club V Volleyball, finish 9th at the USA Volleyball Junior Olympic Championships in the National Division in Atlanta, GA. Earlier in the club season, she helped the team win the Far Western National Qualifier in Reno, NV.

The Mustangs will soon begin preparation for the defense of the 2010 Region IX North Championship and their 3rd Place finish at the NJCAA National Championship when fall practice starts in early August.

Incoming Freshman: Alise Larsen Joins Mustangs for 2011

2011-07-25T11:37:00.007-06:00

Alise Larsen, a 5-9 outside hitter from Highland, Utah, will join Western Wyoming Community College volleyball team for the 2011 season. Larsen graduated from American Fork High School. She spent this past spring playing for Utah Elite Volleyball Club.

"Alise will be a great asset to our program. She is super-competitive and will bring high energy to the gym," stated Rick Reynolds, heading into his 4th season in charge of the Mustangs. "She is a great athlete and has the ability to be a terminator on the left side and to be our libero. We are excited to have her in our program."

Larsen joins a Western Wyoming team with a lot of depth returning in 12 sophomores who finished 3rd at the NJCAA National Championship. The 2011 season gets started for the Mustangs when they take to the road at the Southern Idaho Invitational with games against North Idaho College, Snow College, and USU College of Eastern Utah in Twin Falls, ID.

Mustangs One of 12 Two-Year Colleges Honored with AVCA Team Academic Award

2011-07-21T09:20:00.002-06:00

The 2010-2011 Western Wyoming volleyball team was recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) for their success in the classroom with the Team Academic Award. The Mustangs were one of 12 Two-Year Colleges honored for having over a 3.3 Team GPA. Dawson Community College was the only other Region IX North team to receive the honor.

The award is the first during Rick Reynolds tenure as head coach. Western Wyoming has received two NJCAA Academic Team Awards (2009-2010 and 2010-2011).

The Mustangs are only a few weeks away from the start of the 2011 season. Stay up to date with the latest happenings with the team here at the Western Wyoming Volleyball blog.

To read the AVCA press release, click here.

Mustangs Finish Top 10 in NJCAA Academic Team Award

2011-07-08T11:19:00.003-06:00

Western Wyoming Volleyball completed their best season in school history on the court this past fall by finishing 3rd at the NJCAA National Championship and with a 40-6 record. To show they also can get it done in the classroom, they finished in the top 10 academically with an 8th place finish in the NJCAA Academic Team list of all NJCAA volleyball teams. Their 3.45 Team GPA tied the Mustangs with Eastern Arizona College and Pratt Community College.

To see the complete list, please visit the NJCAA website.

Kirstin Knowles received the Exemplary Academic Achievement award for posting a 3.74 GPA during her time at Western Wyoming Community College. Knowles recently signed with Weber State University and will be playing volleyball and continuing her education as a Wildcat.

To see the list of recipients of this award, please visit the NJCAA website.

Knowles Signs with Weber State

2011-05-26T10:31:00.002-06:00

Kirsti Knowles recently committed and signed with Weber State University. Knowles was a two-year starter for the Mustangs. This past season she led the team to a third place finish at the NJCAA National Championship with a victory of Salt Lake Community College.

To read about her signing, please visit Weber State Athletics.

Season Review

2011-05-23T09:53:00.002-06:00

2010 Western Wyoming Volleyball Season Review

Season Record - 40-6
Region IX North Record - 14-0
Region Tournament Record - 5-1 - Region IX North Champions
NJCAA National Tournament Record - 3-1 - 3rd Place NJCAA National Championship
Record Against NJCAA Top 20 - 15-6

Season Awards

All Region IX North Team
Kirsti Knowles
Olivera Medic
Cori Perrault
Chelsea Sorensen
Viktorija Teivane

WCCAC All Conference 1st Team
Olivera Medic
Chelsea Sorensen
Viktorija Teivane

WCCAC All Conference 2nd Team
Kirsti Knowles

Region IX North Player of the Year
Olivera Medic

Region IX North Freshman of the Year
Olivera Medic

Region IX All Tournament Team
Olivera Medic
Cori Perrault
Chelsea Sorensen
Viktorija Teivane

NJCAA National Championship All Tournament Team
Olivera Medic
Viktorija Teivane

NJCAA 1st Team All American
Olivera Medic

AVCA 1st Team All American
Olivera Medic

Region IX Coach of the Year
Rick Reynolds

WCCAC Coach of the Year
Rick Reynolds

NJCAA District I Coach of the Year
Rick Reynolds

Western Wyoming Seeded #2 for National Tournament

2010-11-12T10:01:00.002-07:00

#2 Western Wyoming Community College will enter the NJCAA Division 1 Volleyball National Tournament as the two seed. The Mustangs (37-5) will take on the 15th seeded Barton County (KS) Community College (25-8) at 11:00 am Central time in West Plains Civic Center, West Plains, MO.

Miami-Dade College enters the tournament as the favorite and a 33-0 record. San-Jacinto College-Central (TX) was seeded third followed by Western Nebraska Community College and Blinn College (TX) to round out the top five seeds.

If the Mustangs are able to make it to the second round, they will play the winner of the battle between 7th seeded Florida State College-Jacksonville and 10th seeded Eastern Arizona College.

Mustang fans will be able to follow the action live by visiting www.njcaa.org/tv. Scores and additional information on the tournament can be found at www.njcaavbd1.com. Make sure you have plans to watch the Mustangs take on the Cougars at 11:00 am Central on Thursday, November 18th.

MUSTANGS WIN REGION IX NORTH CHAMPIONSHIP

2010-11-11T13:25:00.004-07:00

#2 Western Wyoming Community College responded to their first loss in over a month by winning three in a row Saturday to win the Region IX North Championship. The Mustangs (35-5) beat Central Wyoming College 25-19, 25-7, 22-25, 25-14 to make it to the Championship Game against Laramie County Community College.

Chelsea Sorensen and Olivera Medic had 15 and 16 kills to lead the offense. Cori Perrault led the defense with 21 digs, followed by Kara Cotter with 18. Arielle Allen and Sorensen had six block assists each to help control the play at the net. Kirsti Knowles added 53 assists in leading the balanced attack.

Against LCCC in the first championship game, Western Wyoming (36-5) was able to pick up the five-set victory 18-25, 25-19, 26-24, 20-25, 18-16.

Medic and Sorensen posted 13 kills each while Cotter and Viktorija Teivane added 12 each. Knowles added a season high 54 assists. Perrault picked up 19 digs. Allen added five block assists.

In the second championship game, Western Wyoming (37-5) was able to fight fatigue and a battling Golden Eagle squad off and take a tough four-set victory 26-24, 25-20, 23-25, 26-24 to claim their first Region IX North title since 2006.

Leading the Mustang attack was Medic with 17 kills, Sorensen with 16 kills, and Teivane with 16 kills. Knowles again eclipsed the 50 assist mark by handing out 53. Medic added 19 digs while Perrault had 18. Allen completed a dominating blocking weekend with 8 more block assists.

The Mustangs now travel to West Plains, MO for the NJCAA Division 1 National Tournament November 18-20.

Golden Eagles Take Down Mustangs in 5

2010-11-11T13:14:00.002-07:00

#2 Western Wyoming Community College had their 14-game win streak snapped on Friday when Laramie County Community College beat the Mustangs 23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 14-16. The loss puts the Mustangs (34-5) into the loser's bracket and they will play the winner of Central Wyoming vs. Casper on Saturday at 2:00 pm.

Olivera Medic and Viktorija Teivane led the offense with 13 kills each. Arielle Allen paced the defense with 11 block assists. Medic and Cori Perrault picked up 18 and 17 digs respectively. Kirsti Knowles finished with 43 assists running the offense.

#2 Mustangs Advance to Take on LCCC

2010-11-11T08:54:00.004-07:00

Western Wyoming Community College defeated Casper College in straight sets 25-20, 25-15, 25-15 on Thursday to setup a Friday match-up with Laramie County Community College.

Olivera Medic and Viktorija Teivane put down 18 and 11 kills respectively. Kirsti Knowles led the offense with 40 assists. Teivane posted a double-double by picking up 17 digs as well.

The Mustangs (34-4) will take on LCCC at 6:00 pm.

Western Wyoming Wins First Round Game at Region Tourney

2010-11-11T08:17:00.002-07:00

#2 Western Wyoming Volleyball won their first game of the Region IX North Tournament by taking down the Buccaneers of Dawson Community College 25-7, 25-13, 25-19.

Chelsea Sorensen put down seven kills to lead the offense. Cori Perrault delivered 11 digs for the defense. Kirsti Knowles and Makayla Keck dished out 18 and 15 assists respectively.

The Mustangs (33-4) advance to take on Casper College who defeated Eastern Wyoming College in the second round of the Region IX North Tournament.

Mustangs Beat Thunderbirds in 4

2010-11-11T08:09:00.002-07:00

#2 Western Wyoming Community College travelled to Casper, WY to take on the Thunderbirds of Casper College on Thursday, October 28th. The Mustangs took down the T-Birds 25-18, 25-14, 25-27, 25-16.

Olivera Medic paced the offense with 21 kills. Cori Perrault picked up 19 digs. Kirsti Knowles handed out 28 assists and Makayla Keck had 27 assists.

Western Wyoming (32-4, 14-0 in Region IX North) finished the regular season undefeated in region play.

Mustangs Hold On to #2 in Latest Poll

2010-10-27T14:22:00.004-06:00

The No. 2 ranked Western Wyoming Community College Mustangs held on to their rankings in the latest NJCAA Division I Volleyball poll. this is the last poll of the season as Region and District Tournaments begin next week to decide who will get the 16 spots at the NJCAA National Tournament in West Plains, MO.

The top five remained unchanged for the second week in a row as Miami-Dade College held onto the top spot. San Jacinto College-Central, Western Nebraska Community College, and Blinn College round out the top five.

The Mustangs (31-4, 13-0 in Region IX North) travel to Casper, WY to take on the Thunderbirds of Casper College on Thursday at 7:00 pm.

Here is the latest poll.

#2 Mustangs Beat #10 College of Southern Idaho

2010-10-27T09:55:00.003-06:00

#2 Western Wyoming Community College volleyball team hosted the tenth ranked College of Southern Idaho in their last home game of the season on Monday. The Mustangs were victorious 25-19, 32-34, 25-23, 25-20 over the Eagles. It was also the last home game for two sophomores, Kirsti Knowles and Chelsea Sorensen.

Sorensen went out with a bang as she put down 20 kills, with no errors on 35 swings for a .571 hitting percentage. Viktorija Teivane had 17 kills in support of Sorensen's effort. Knowles led the offense by handing out 49 assists, her second highest output of the season. Olivera Medic had 20 digs to pace the defense and Cori Perrault added 18. Teivane also picked up 16 digs and added three service aces and four block assists. Medic also was strong at the net with three solo blocks and two block assists.

The Mustangs (31-4, 13-0 in Region IX North) return to the court Thursday at 7:00 pm in Casper, WY as they take on the Thunderbirds of Casper College. This will be the last regular season game for the team as they prepare to travel to Glendive, MT for the Region IX North Tournament. Western Wyoming is the number one seed in the tournament and will play host Dawson Community College in the first round on Wednesday, November 3rd at 2:00 pm.

#2 Western Wyoming Moves to 13-0 in Region

2010-10-22T20:10:00.002-06:00

#2 Western Wyoming Community College hosted their last Region IX North game of the season against the Trappers of Northwest College. The Mustangs finished undefeated at home during region play with a 25-10, 25-18, 26-24 win in Rushmore.

Leading the Mustangs (30-4, 13-0 in Region IX North) was Olivera Medic with 12 kills. Viktorija Teivane and Chelsea Sorensen both finished with nine kills. Kirsti Knowles handed out 32 assists and posted a double-double by also having 14 digs. Cori Perrault had 16 digs to lead the Mustangs and Teivane also added 13. Arielle Allen added three block assists.

The #2 Mustangs return to Rushmore Gymnasium for a non-conference match up with the defending national champions and current tenth ranked College of Southern Idaho on Monday at 6:00 pm. This will be the last home game of the season before the team finishes season Thursday at Casper College at 7:00 pm. Western Wyoming will then travel to Glendive, MT for the Region IX North Tournament November 3-6.

Western Wyoming's Medic NJCAA National Player of the Week

2010-10-21T06:32:00.002-06:00

Rock Springs--Western Wyoming Community College volleyball player Olivera Medic has been named Player of the Week by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Western Wyoming's 6'1" hitter posted huge games in three wins this past week. The wins came against #10 College of Southern Idaho, #7 Laramie County CC, and Eastern Wyoming. Over the three game span, the Subotica, Serbia native totaled 51 kills, three blocks, 42 digs, one assist, and one ace. She recorded 26 kills and 18 digs in the game versus Laramie alone.

WWCC Volleyball Head Coach Rick Reynolds remarked, "This is a great honor for Olivera, as well as the rest of the team. They have all worked extremely hard this season and they deserve to be recognized for their efforts."

WWCC is currently ranked as the #2 team in the country. With only three matches left until the region tournament beginning November 3, in Glendive, MT, the Mustangs are focusing on continuing their undefeated regional play. The will host Northwest College on Friday at 6:00 pm and the last home match of the season is Monday, October 25 at 6:00 pm against the College of Southern Idaho.

Article written by Allyson Cross, Western Wyoming Community College Coordinator of Marketing and Public Information

Mustangs Hold Steady at #2

2010-10-20T14:24:00.004-06:00

In the latest NJCAA Division I volleyball poll, the top five of the poll was unchanged. After posting a 3-0 week with victories over #10 College of Southern Idaho, #7 Laramie County Community College, and Eastern Wyoming College, the Western Wyoming Community College Mustangs (29-4, 12-0 Region IX North) maintained their #2 ranking. Miami-Dade College still leads with a 24-0 record. San Jacinto College-Central, Western Nebraska Community College, and Blinn College round out the top five.

Here is the latest poll. The Mustangs return to the court on Friday at 6:00 pm in Rushmore Gymnasium as they take on the Trappers of Northwest College.

Mustangs Clinch First Place in Region IX North

2010-10-19T21:51:00.003-06:00

#2 Western Wyoming Community College struggled early but finished strong in a 3-1 (14-25, 25-12, 25-17, 25-18) defeat of the Central Wyoming College Rustlers. The win clinched the #1 seed for the Mustangs in the upcoming Region IX North tournament to be held in Glendive, MT November 3-6.

In front of a great crowd, the Mustangs (29-4, 12-0 Region IX North) were led by Arielle Allen with 12 kills and Chelsea Sorensen with 11. Kirsti Knowles had 37 assists in spreading out the offense. Olivera Medic picked up 18 digs while Viktorija Teivane had 14 to lead the defensive effort. Allen also had three block assists. Teivane served up five aces to lead the Mustangs from the service line.

Western Wyoming returns to the court on Friday as they host the Northwest College Trappers at 6:00 pm in Rushmore Gymnasium.

Mustangs Sweep Lancers for 11th Win in Region

2010-10-17T16:14:00.003-06:00

#2 Western Wyoming Community College volleyball team posted their 11th victory in Region IX North when they took down the Lancers of Eastern Wyoming College 25-18, 25-16, 25-20 on Saturday.

Leading the offense for the Mustangs (28-4, 11-0) was Kara Cotter with nine kills. Makayla Keck handed out 42 assists as the offense posted 50 kills in the three sets. The defense was paced by Cori Perrault with 11 digs.

The #2 Mustangs return to Rushmore Gymnasium this week as they host Central Wyoming College on Tuesday at 7:00 pm in their Breast Cancer Awareness night and Northwest College on Friday at 6:00 pm. Both of these Region IX North contests will help decide the final seeding at the region tournament held in Glendive, MT Nov. 3-6. Central Wyoming is 5-5 in region play and currently sits a half game behind Casper College for 4th. Northwest is 3rd in the region with a 7-3 record.

Mustangs Beat #7 LCCC

2010-10-17T16:09:00.004-06:00

#2 Western Wyoming Community College defended their national ranking in a tough Region IX North matchup with #7 Laramie County Community College on Friday by winning 22-25, 25-23, 25-22, 16-25, 15-12. In what was a back and forth contest, the Mustangs were able to come out and control the 5th set and take a two game lead in the battle for first in the region.

Leading the Mustangs (27-4, 10-0) was Olivera Medic with 26 kills. Kirsti Knowles handed out 48 assists. Medic and Cori Perrault led the defense with 18 and 17 digs respectively. Chelsea Sorensen and Arielle Allen picked up three blocks each.

Mustangs Ranked #2 in Latest Poll

2010-10-13T14:05:00.002-06:00

Western Wyoming Community College (26-4, 9-0 Region IX North) continued their climb up the NJCAA Division I Volleyball rankings by taking over the #2 spot in this week's poll.

The Mustangs are coming off a 3-0 week where they beat Colorado Northwestern Community College, Casper College, and Sheridan College. They also picked up a victory on Monday against the new #10 in this week's poll College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, ID.

Joining Western Wyoming in the top five are Miami-Dade College who has held the top spot since the first poll of the season, San Jacinto College-Central who fell from the #2 spot to #3 this week, Western Nebraska Community College and Blinn College.

Here is the latest poll.

http://njcaa.org/sports_polls.cfm?sid=32&divid=1&gender=m&slid=17&menu=2&seasonselect=528&pollmasteridselect=2475

Mustangs Trample Eagles in Five

2010-10-13T06:45:00.003-06:00

#4 Western Wyoming Community College travelled to Twin Falls, ID to take on the defending National Champion and currently ranked #11 College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles Monday. The Mustangs pulled off the five-set win 20-25, 25-15, 25-18, 24-26, 15-12.

Olivera Medic led four players with double-digit kills with 19. Chelsea Sorensen put down 13 kills and Kara Cotter and Viktorija Teivane each added 11. Kirsti Knowles dished out 52 assists in guiding the offense to 65 kills. Medic also picked up 21 digs to lead five players with at least 10 digs. Joining her was Cotter with 20, Teivane with 19, Perrault with 16, and Knowles with 11. Sorensen helped lead the net play with one solo block and three block assists.

The Mustangs return to Region IX North play this weekend as they travel to Cheyenne and Torrington to take on #7 Laramie County Community College at 7:00 pm Friday and Eastern Wyoming College at 3:00 pm Saturday.

Mustangs Pick Up Two Region IX North Wins

2010-10-12T15:09:00.002-06:00

#4 Western Wyoming Community College pushed their Region IX North record to 9-0 on Thursday and Saturday with victories over Casper College (25-18, 25-15, 25-14) and Sheridan College (25-7, 25-8, 25-18).

The Mustangs were led by Chelsea Sorensen and Olivera Medic who had eight kills each against Sheridan College. Kirsti Knowles led the offense with 25 assists and defense with 10 digs. Arielle Allen had eight block assists to help the Mustangs control the net.

In the contest against Sheridan College, Sorensen and Viktorija Teivane each had six kills. Makayla Keck handed out 18 assists. Medic led the defense with 11 digs while Cori Perrault picked up 10.

The Mustangs (25-4, 9-0) return to the court as they travel to Twin Falls, ID to take on defending national champions College of Southern Idaho at 6:00 pm on Monday, October 11th.

Mustangs Maintain #4 Ranking

2010-10-07T15:49:00.001-06:00

The top five of the NJCAA Division I volleyball poll remained the same with a little shuffling. Western Wyoming Community College is still ranked 4th despite losing to the new #3 Salt Lake Community College. The Bruins moved to #3 after falling to Snow College on Saturday in three sets. Miami-Dade College maintained the #1 spot with San Jacinto College-Central moving up to #2. Western Nebraska Community College maintained their place at #5.

http://njcaa.org/sports_polls.cfm?category=Polls&sid=32&divid=1&slid=17

Mustangs Conquer Spartans in 4

2010-10-07T15:20:00.002-06:00

The #4 Western Wyoming Community College Mustangs took down the Spartans of Colorado Northwestern Community College in four sets on Tuesday 25-10, 25-16, 23-25, 25-11.

The Mustangs were led by Brooke Friesen with 12 kills. She was joined on the offensive attack by Candace Clifford with seven kills and three who had six in Christa Kenney, Susan Lindley, and Jocelyn Ostermiller. Kortnie Christiansen picked up 19 digs and Ostermiller added two solo blocks and four block assists to the lead the defense. Makayla Keck handed out 26 assists with Kirsti Knowles adding 19.

Western Wyoming returns to the court on Thursday as they take on Region IX North foe Casper College at 7:00 pm in Rushmore Gymnasium. The first 50 students who check in with the Residence Hall Association will get free Rushmore Rowdies t-shirts.

Mustangs Take Down Northwest College in 3

2010-10-04T08:39:00.004-06:00

The #4 Western Wyoming Community College Mustangs completed a 2-0 Region IX North weekend sweep by taking three straight sets at Northwest College in Powell, WY 25-23, 25-17, 25-22. This ended a stretch of 23 days the Mustangs have not played at home with the team going 13-1, the lone loss a mid-week contest at #2 Salt Lake Community College this past Tuesday.

Against the Trappers, the Mustangs (22-4, 7-0 in Region IX North) hit .310 for the game and a blistering .469 in the highly contested first set. Five hitters had at least nine kills in the game led by Chelsea Sorensen with 12 and Kara Cotter with 10. Kirsti Knowles was responsible for 42 assists and three block assists. Cori Perrault had 17 digs to lead the defensive charge. Sorensen also had four block assists.

The Mustangs return home this week for three contests. The first is Tuesday against Colorado Northwestern Community College at 6:00 pm. On Thursday, the team will welcome Casper College at 7:00 pm. Saturday's game will have the Mustangs playing Sheridan College at 5:00 pm.

Western Wyoming Takes Down Rustlers in 3

2010-10-02T00:29:00.002-06:00

#4 Western Wyoming Community College travelled to Riverton, WY to take on the Rustlers of Central Wyoming College. The Mustangs (21-4, 6-0 Region IX North) won in straight sets but it wasn't easy as the Rustlers (8-12, 3-3 Region IX North) played tough in all three sets. The final scores were 25-22, 25-15, 25-23.

Western Wyoming put down 49 kills and were led by Olivera Medic with 13 kills and Arielle Allen and Chelsea Sorensen with nine kills each. The Mustangs posted a .292 hitting percentage for the game. Kirsti Knowles handed out 32 assists and she was joined by Makayla Keck who dished 13 assists in the third set. The defense added five blocks, led by Medic with five block assists, and 51 digs, led by Cori Perrault who picked up 13 digs and Medic who added 11.

The team returns to the court on Saturday in Powell, WY as they take on Northwest College at 3:00 pm.

Mustangs #4 in Latest NJCAA Poll

2010-09-29T12:48:00.002-06:00

Wednesday morning brought positive news after a disappointing loss to #2 Salt Lake Community College on Tuesday night. Western Wyoming has moved up to fourth in the latest NJCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Poll.

The Mustangs were rewarded for their 6-0 week last week at the Wyo-Braska Shoot-Out. The team beat three nationally ranked teams, including a four-set victory over previously #3 Western Nebraska Community College.

Joining Western Wyoming in the top five were #1 Miami-Dade College, #2 Salt Lake Community College, #3 San Jacinto College-Central, and #5 Western Nebraska Community College. Region IX has two additional teams in the top 20 in #7 Laramie County Community College and #12 Northeastern Junior College.

The Mustangs continue their 23-day road trip as they travel to Central Wyoming College in Riverton and Northwest College in Powell this Friday and Saturday.

Here is a link to the poll: http://njcaa.org/sports_polls.cfm?category=Polls&sid=32&divid=1&slid=17

Western Wyoming Struggles Offensively Against #2 SLCC

2010-09-29T10:35:00.002-06:00

Mustang Volleyball (20-4) travelled to Salt Lake City to take on #2 Salt Lake Community College (21-1) and got outhit .260 to .082 in a three set loss 23-25, 19-25, 21-25.

Olivera Medic had nine kills and 10 digs to lead the team in both categories. Kirsti Knowles handed out 20 assists. The lone bright spot was the Mustangs out blocked the Bruins 5-4.5.

Western Wyoming returns to the court this Friday and Saturday as they travel to Riverton, WY and Powell, WY to take on Central Wyoming College (8-11) and Northwest College (10-14) respectively. The Mustangs will be looking to get back on the winning track and remain unbeaten in Region IX North play.

Mustangs Upset #3 WNCC on Their Home Court

2010-09-29T10:28:00.004-06:00

Mustang Volleyball completed a 6-0 weekend by taking down perennial national championship contender and #3 ranked Western Nebraska Community College 25-20, 13-25, 25-19, 25-13. It was the Cougars first loss at home in over six seasons.

Western Wyoming had 58 kills and posted a .238 hitting percentage. Chelsea Sorensen led four players with double figure kills with 17 kills. Olivera Medic had 13 kills and Viktorija Teivane and Kara Cotter posted 10 kills each. Medic also had 19 digs to lead the defensive effort. Also posting double digit digs was Cori Perrault with 14, Teivane with 13, and Kirsti Knowles with 10. Knowles handed out 48 assists.

Mustangs 3-0 on Friday at Wyo-Braska

2010-09-29T10:17:00.002-06:00

#6 Western Wyoming Community College volleyball team continued their strong performance at the Wyo-Braska Shoot-Out in Torrington, WY and Scottsbluff, NE with three victories.

The day started against McCook Community College and the Mustangs won 25-12, 25-10, 20-25, 25-19 in Torrington. Susan Lindley pounded out 10 kills while Cori Perrault was able to pick up 14 digs. Makayla Keck handed out 29 assists to lead the offense.

Western Wyoming took on Air Force Prep in the second match of the day in Scottsbluff, NE. The team swept all three sets 25-20, 25-8, 25-11. Kortnie Christiansen put down 10 kills. Cori Perrault dug out nine balls to lead the defense. Makayla Keck led the offense by dishing out 27 assists.

The Mustangs ended the day against #19 Seward County Community College and they were able to pick up the straight set victory 25-18, 25-16, 25-15. Viktorija Teivane paced the offense with 15 kills and Olivera Medic and Cori Perrault picked up 12 digs each. Kirsti Knowles had 37 assists as she quarterbacked the offense to a .238 hitting percentage.

Western Wyoming Post Two Wins at Wyo-Braska

2010-09-23T23:44:00.002-06:00

The #6 Western Wyoming Community College Mustangs took down Trinidad State Junior College and #11 Northeastern Junior College in three sets on the first day of the Wyo-Braska Shoot-Out in Torrington, Wy.

In the first game of the day, the Mustangs beat Trinidad State 25-9, 25-17, 25-18. The team posted a .432 hitting percentage. Olivera Medic provided the offense with a team high 13 kills. Kirsti Knowles picked up nine digs to go with 36 assists. Viktorija Teivane had six service aces.

Against #11 Northeastern, Western Wyoming only had six hitting in the game and posted a .396 hitting percentage in the 25-19, 25-15, 29-27 victory. Viktorija Teivane paced the offense with 18 kills on 30 attempts with no errors. Kirsti Knowles had 37 assists. Cori Perrault and Teivane picked 13 digs each.

The Mustangs return to the court tomorrow at 10:00 am vs. McCook Community College in Torrington before travelling to Scottsbluff, NE for a 2:00 pm game with Air Force Prep. They will return to Torrington for an 8:00 pm match-up with #19 Seward County Community College.

Western Wyoming Continues to Climb in NJCAA Poll

2010-09-22T08:56:00.002-06:00

In the latest NJCAA Division I Volleyball Poll, Western Wyoming Community College climbed to #6. The Mustangs went 5-0 last week as they travelled for Region IX North play for the first time. In the five games played, WWCC only dropped one set.

Western Wyoming will travel for the Wyo-Braska Shoot-Out in Torrington, WY and Scottsbluff, NE this Thursday-Saturday. The schedule includes match-ups with #11 Northeastern Junior College, #19 Seward County Community College, and #3 Western Nebraska Community College. Also on the schedule is Trinidad State Junior College, McCook Community College, and Air Force Prep.

The top five for this week's poll is Miami Dade College at #1, followed by next Tuesday's opponent Salt Lake Community College, Western Nebraska, San Jacinto College-Central, and Frank Phillips College.

http://njcaa.org/sports_polls.cfm?category=Polls&sid=32&divid=1&slid=17

Western Wyoming Completes Weekend Sweep with Two More Wins

2010-09-21T08:08:00.002-06:00

Mustang Volleyball completed a 5-0 week with two more wins on Saturday at the Coca-Cola Classic in Glendive, MT.

The first match of the day was a rematch with Region IX North member Dawson Community College. Western Wyoming won in straight sets 25-8, 25-7, 25-18 to complete the season sweep. The win puts the Mustangs at the top of Region IX North with a 5-0 record. Chelsea Sorensen and Olivera Medic had seven kills each lead the attack. Cori Perrault posted 15 digs. Kirsti Knowles had 28 assists and four aces.

Against Williston State College, Western Wyoming came through with another three set sweep 25-14, 25-10, 26-24. Medic again paced the offense with eight kills with Perrault also finishing with a team high 11 digs. Knowles had 21 assists.

The Mustangs finished the Coca-Cola Classic without dropping a single set going 12-0. The team is 14-3 on the season and 5-0 in Region IX North play. This week brings the final tournament of the season as Western Wyoming will travel to Torrington, WY and Scottsbluff, NE to compete in the Wyo-Braska Shoot-Out. The Mustangs will have games against #11 Northeastern Junior College, #18 Seward County Community College, and #7 Western Nebraska Community College. Three additional games pit the team against Trinidad State Junior College, McCook Community College, and Air Force Prep. The tournament starts on Thursday and runs through Saturday.

Mustangs Win Two First Day at Coca-Cola Classic

2010-09-20T09:21:00.003-06:00

On the first day in Glendive, MT, the Mustangs picked up two wins with the victories coming over University of Great Falls and Dawson Community College.

Against UGF, Western Wyoming posted a three set victory 25-13, 25-17, 25-21. The Mustangs were led by Brooke Friesen who posted nine kills. Kortnie Christiansen picked up 11 digs. Makayla Keck dished out 35 assists to pace the offense.

Against Region IX North foe Dawson Community College, the Mustangs got the sweep 25-9, 25-9, 25-20. Western Wyoming posted a .378 hitting percentage with Chelsea Sorensen and Olivera Medic leading the charge with 10 kills each. Cori Perrault led from the service line with five aces and on defense with 11 digs. Makayla Keck continued her great performances on the day with 30 assists.

Mustangs Take Down Generals in Four

2010-09-20T09:13:00.002-06:00

Western Wyoming Volleyball beat Sheridan College in four sets on Thursday 25-19, 22-25, 25-16, 25-8. The Mustangs started off slow hitting .155 in the first set with six hitting errors and hitting .000 in the second set with 13 hitting errors. They were able to rebound after the 10-minute break to hit .515 in the third set with two hitting errors and hitting .550 in the fourth with no hitting errors.

The Mustangs were led by Chelsea Sorensen who had 14 kills and .400 hitting percentage. Three other Mustangs had double digit kills in Kara Cotter with 12 and Olivera Medic and Viktorija Teivane with 10 each. Medic posted 16 digs to lead five players with double digit digs including Cori Perrault and Cotter with 14, Teivane with 12, and Kirsti Knowles with 11. Knowles also handed out 47 assists.

Mustangs Jump Two Spots in Latest NJCAA Poll

2010-09-15T08:23:00.003-06:00

Western Wyoming Community College Volleyball team capped off a 3-0 week by jumping two spots to #8 in the latest NJCAA Division I Volleyball poll. Miami-Dade College continues to hold the #1 spot while Mustang opponents College of Southern Idaho moved to #3 and Salt Lake Community College fell to #5. Region IX members Western Nebraska Community College held on to #7 and Laramie County Community College held on to #9 as well. Northeastern Junior College moved up to #11 from last week's #12 ranking.

The Mustangs take to the road this week for the longest road trip of the season. On Thursday, they travel up to play Region IX North foe Sheridan College at 7:00 pm in Sheridan. Friday brings a doubleheader as the team will take part in the Coca-Cola Classic in Glendive, MT against University of Great Fall JV at 12:00 noon and Region IX North member Dawson Community College at 6:00 pm. The tournament will continue on Saturday with Western Wyoming competing against Williston State College at 9:00 am and Dawson at 11:00 am.

http://njcaa.org/sports_polls.cfm?category=Polls&sid=32&divid=1&slid=17

Mustangs Take Four-Set Thriller Over #9 LCCC

2010-09-13T13:30:00.004-06:00

The opening Region IX North weekend ended with smiles at Rushmore Gymnasium as Western Wyoming took down #9 Laramie County Community College 13-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-19. The Mustangs were able to fight their way to victory to cap off a 2-0 start to Region IX North play.

Western Wyoming was led offensively by Kara Cotter who put away 12 kills and Kirsti Knowles handed out 29 assists. A great defensive effort was put in by Cori Perrault who picked up 17 digs and Arielle Allen who recorded eight blocks.

The Mustangs are 9-3 on the season and 2-0 in Region IX North play. They return to the court on Thursday at 7:00 pm against Sheridan College in Sheridan, WY. They follow that contest up with four games in Glendive, MT at Dawson Community College. Western Wyoming is scheduled to play at 2:00pm and 6:00pm on Friday against University of Great Falls JV and Dawson respectively. On Saturday, the team will return to the court at 9:00am and 11:00 am against Williston State College and Dawson.

Western Wyoming Tops Eastern Wyoming in 3

2010-09-13T13:22:00.002-06:00

The first Region IX North contest presented the Mustangs with the 7-4 Lancers from Torrington, WY coming to Rock Springs and Rushmore Gymnasium. Due to travel issues the game was delayed approximately 45 minutes but that didn't stop Western Wyoming from picking up the victory 25-18, 25-9, 25-18.

Leading the charge for the Mustangs were Olivera Medic and Chelsea Sorensen with six kills each and Kirsti Knowles with 21 assists. Medic also picked up 12 digs. Viktorija Teivane set the pace from the service line with four aces.

It was the first Region IX North victory for Western Wyoming as they improved to 8-3 on the young season.

Two Receive All Tournament Award at Runnin' Lopes Invitational

2010-09-09T09:56:00.002-06:00

Olivera Medic and Chelsea Sorensen received All Tournament Awards for their performance at the Runnin' Lopes Invitational. The Mustangs went 3-1 during the opening weekend tournament. The awards were announced earlier this week by Lamar Community College head coach Courtney Heiser.

Mustang head coach Rick Reynolds stated, "it is always special when our athletes get recognized for their efforts. Chelsea has put in a lot of time with this program and she deserves any awards she receives. Olivera put in a two good performances that weekend and has continued to improve in our system."

Western Wyoming Volleyball returns to the court on Friday at 7:00 pm as they start Region IX North competition against Eastern Wyoming College. The Mustangs also host #9 Laramie County Community College on Saturday at 3:00 pm. Friday night's game is Grandparent Apprecation Day. Please bring your grandparents out to the game and they will get in free. Saturday's game is Military Appreciation Day. All military personnel, retired or active, will receive free admission.

Mustangs Bust into the Top 20 NJCAA Poll

2010-09-08T09:15:00.002-06:00

Western Wyoming Community College comes in at #10 in the latest NJCAA volleyball poll released this morning. This is the first time in the last three years the team has been ranked. Other Region IX teams in the poll include Western Nebraska Community College at #7, Laramie County Community College at #9, and Northeastern Junior College at #12.

These rankings set up a top 10 battle this weekend when Laramie County comes to Rushmore Gymnasium to take on the Mustangs Saturday at 3:00 pm.

Head coach Rick Reynolds had this to say on being nationally ranked for the first time since he has been at Western Wyoming, "it is a great honor for our team and program to receive this recognition. Our thought process does not change at all heading in to this weekend. We have to work hard in practice to ensure we are ready to go when Eastern Wyoming gets here on Friday. They are off to a great start and with us being ranked, it only means teams will see us as a bigger target. We are happy to be recognized but we know that our goals are still in front of us and we have to keep working to reach them."

http://njcaa.org/sports_polls.cfm?category=Polls&sid=32&divid=1&slid=17

Western Wyoming Sweeps Spartans in Three

2010-09-08T07:31:00.003-06:00

Mustang Volleyball travelled to Craig, CO for a neutral site contest against Colorado Northwestern Community College on Tuesday night. Western Wyoming produced a straight set victory 25-10, 25-18, 25-22. Candace Clifford led the offense with nine kills followed closely by Christa Kenney with eight and Brooke Friesen with seven. Makayla Keck handed out 33 assists and led the defense with 13 digs. Kortnie Christiansen and Kenney each had eight digs in support on defense. Keck led from the service line with six aces. Christiansen had four aces while Kenney chipped in three aces. Jocelyn Ostermiller and Breonna Phillips had two blocks a piece to help control the net play for the Mustangs.

Western Wyoming returns to the court this weekend when they host Eastern Wyoming College (7-4) on Friday at 7:00 pm and Laramie County Community College (9-0, 1-0 Region IX North) on Saturday at 3:00 pm.

Mustangs 3-1 at Salt Lake Invite

2010-09-07T07:35:00.003-06:00

Western Wyoming Volleyball travelled to Salt Lake City, UT for the Salt Lake Invite this past weekend.

The tournament began with a match-up against Region XVIII foe Snow College. In a five-set thriller, the Mustangs were to battle back from a 2-1 deficit to post a win 22-25, 25-20, 14-25, 25-15, 15-12. Kara Cotter led the offensive charge with 12 kills, while Olivera Medic had 11. Cori Perrault led the defensive front with 25 digs. Kirsti Knowles dished out 31 assists in the game. Sorensen and Medic controlled the net play with five blocks each, followed closely by Cotter who had four.

The second game of the tournament matched the Mustangs against Region IX South member Northeastern Junior College. Feeding off the come from behind victory over Snow, Western Wyoming rushed out of the gates for two quick set wins 25-16, 25-18 and then held on in the third set for a 25-23 win to take the game. Chelsea Sorensen and Arielle Allen put down eight kills a piece and Kirsti Knowles posted 30 assists to lead the offense. Olivera Medic and Cori Perrault each had 13 digs to the lead the defensive effort.

Saturday morning brought two nationally ranked opponents in #5 Western Nebraska Community College and defending National Champion College of Southern Idaho. In the first match of the day against Region IX South powerhouse WNCC, the Mustangs took set one by the score of 25-18 but were unable to sustain it as they lost the next three sets 14-25, 19-25, 21-25. Viktorija Teivane and Kara Cotter scored 10 kills each and Kirsti Knowles handed out 37 assists. Teivane also led the defense with 13 digs. Christa Kenney came in to put up three blocks to lead the way at the net.

The final match of the tournament the Mustangs turned in their best performance of the season. Western Wyoming swept #1 ranked Southern Idaho 25-23, 26-24, 25-23. It was a very competitive match with both teams playing high level volleyball. The Mustangs outhit the Golden Eagles .185 to .137. The statistical difference in the game was blocking where Western Wyoming had a 9.5 to 3 edge. Olivera Medic paced the offense with 14 kills and Kirsti Knowles dished out 33 assists. Cori Perrault had 21 digs and Arielle Allen had six blocks to lead the defense.

Mustangs Fall to #3 Bruins

2010-09-01T07:52:00.003-06:00

Rushmore Gymnasium was buzzing with excitement Tuesday night, unfortunately for the Mustangs they were unable to capatilize on the passion of the crowd. #3 Salt Lake Community College showed why they are a preseason favorite in a straight set victory of Western Wyoming 25-19, 25-21, 25-17.

The Mustangs were led by Chelsea Sorensen who had six kills and Kirsti Knowles who had 18 assists. Defensively, Cori Perrault led the team with eight digs. Kara Cotter led the team with two aces.

Western Wyoming will return to the court this weekend at the Salt Lake Invite as they take on Snow College at 12:00 noon and Northeastern Junior College at 2:00 pm on Friday in Bruin Gym at Salt Lake Community College. On Saturday, the Mustangs will challenge #5 Western Nebraska Community College at 9:00 am and #1 and defending National Champion College of Southern Idaho at 11:00 am.

Western Wyoming Set to "Stuff the Stands" Against #3 SLCC--Preview

2010-08-31T08:01:00.003-06:00

Western Wyoming Community College vs. #3 Salt Lake Community College
Location: Rock Springs, WY
Place: Rushmore Gymnasium
Time: 6:00 pm
Event: STUFF THE STANDS--Try to get as many peopls as possible in Rushmore Gymnasium. Come Stuff the Stands!

What You Need to Know:

Salt Lake Community College: Started season 4-1 at the College of Southern Idaho opening tournament, only loss was to #4 Miami-Dade College, Won games over #11 North Idaho College, #25 Northwest College, Snow College, and USU-College of Eastern Utah. Led by Shelbi Zaldain and Ame White who had 91 kills combined at the tournament. Zaldain, NJCAA All American Honorable Mention in 2009. Erika Charry, NJCAA All American 1st Team in 2009. Sue Dulaney is the former Western Wyoming coach.

Western Wyoming Community College: Started season 3-1 at the Runnin Lopes Invitational in Lamar, CO. Won games over Vernon College, #14 Pratt Community College, and Trinidad State Junior College, only loss was to #24 Yavapai College. Led by Chelsea Sorensen and Kirsti Knowles. 15 freshmen on the team from three different countries and seven different states. Sorensen was an All Region Team member in 2009. Knowles led the 2009 team with over 1200 assists. Rick Reynolds is in his third season as the head coach.

Mustangs 3-1 at Runnin Lopes Invitational

2010-08-31T07:47:00.003-06:00

Western Wyoming Volleyball's season got off to a good start in Lamar, CO with the Mustangs going 3-1.

The first match of the season had the Mustangs going against Vernon College out of Vernon, TX. Western Wyoming won in straight sets 25-15, 25-20, 25-23.

In the second match of the tournament, The Mustangs took on the #24 Roughriders of Yavapai College in Prescott, AZ. In a highly competitive contest, Western Wyoming came up short as YC won the game 25-18, 22-25, 25-18, 25-23.

The first match on Saturday had Western Wyoming going against #14 Pratt Community College out of Pratt, KS. The Mustangs won the game in straight sets 25-10, 25-11, 25-21.

To finish out the tourney, the Mustangs matched up with Trinidad State Junior College out of Trinidad, CO. Western Wyoming won 3-1 with the scores of the sets as follows 25-13, 25-13, 18-25, 25-16.

The Mustangs must now prepare for one of the biggest weeks of the season as they host #3 Salt Lake Community College on Tuesday, August 31st at 6:00 pm and travel to Salt Lake City, UT to compete against Snow College, Northeastern Junior College, #5 Western Nebraska Community College and #1 and defending National Champion College of Southern Idaho.

2010 Season Outlook

2010-08-25T08:35:00.001-06:00

The 2010 Season Outlook has been posted on the Athletic website. Here is the link.

http://www.wwcc.wy.edu/athletics/vb/outlook.htm

Former Western Wyoming Volleyball Player Named Assistant Coach at Moffat County High School

2010-08-19T13:48:00.002-06:00

Stormy Schuler, a 2005 graduate of Western Wyoming Community College, was recently named assistant volleyball coach at Moffat County High School in Craig, CO. Here is the article announcing the hire.

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2010/aug/19/stormy-schuler-named-assistant-mchs-volleyball-coa/

NMVolleyball.com Article on Cori Perrault

2010-07-20T11:10:00.002-06:00

Here is an article written by NMVolleyball.com about Cori Perrault, a 2010 commitment to Western Wyoming Community College.

http://www.nmvolleyball.com/2010/07/19/perrault-signs-with-western-wyoming/

Kelsi Thornock Named to South Roster

2010-07-14T09:14:00.002-06:00

Kelsi Thornock, a 2010 signee for Western Wyoming Community College, has been named to the South roster for the Wyoming Coaches Association All Star Games. The future Mustang will spend four days practicing leading up to the All Star Game which will be held Saturday, July 24th at 2:00 pm in Casper, WY. The South Team coach is Rikki Shantz from Green River High School.

Here is the release from WyoPreps.com.

http://wyopreps.com/article.asp?nid=436&sportID=10&catID=0

Mustang Volleyball Announces 2010 Schedule

2010-07-13T07:48:00.002-06:00

Western Wyoming Community College volleyball head coach Rick Reynolds has announced the 2010 schedule and it includes matches against 22 different teams and nine home games.

The Mustangs will play 36 regular season games and continue a trend of playing a lot of new teams under Reynolds in his third season. Six teams enter the schedule this season as first time opponents since Reynolds took the helm and the list includes nationally ranked Seward County (KS) Community College, Yavapai College (AZ), Williston State College (ND), and Vernon College (TX).

Four tournaments are on the schedule and include the Runnin Lopes Invitational (Aug. 27-28 in Lamar, CO), Salt Lake Invite (Sept. 3-4 in Salt Lake City, UT), Dawson Tournament (Sept. 17-18 in Glendive, MT), and Wyo-Braska Tournament (Sept. 23-25 in Torrington, WY and Scottsbluff, NE).

The 2009 National Champion College of Southern Idaho (Oct. 11, Oct. 25) will be coming back to Rock Springs as the Mustangs will play the Golden Eagles home and away for the second year in a row. Western Wyoming also continues home and away scheduling with Colorado Northwestern (Sept. 7, Oct. 5) and Salt Lake Community College (Aug. 31, Sept. 28).

Region IX North play will be home and away against all region members this season. It will begin with Eastern Wyoming College on September 10th in Rock Springs with the return to Torrington on October 16th. Laramie County Community College (Sept. 11, Oct. 15), Sheridan College (Sept. 16, Oct. 9), Central Wyoming College (Oct. 1, Oct. 19), Northwest College (Oct. 2, Oct. 22), and Casper College (Oct. 7, Oct. 28) will all visit Rushmore Gymnasium as a part of the region schedule while Dawson Community College will get two home matches in Glendive as part of a return trip from the 2008 season.

The Region IX North Tournament will be held in Glendive, MT. It is scheduled for November 3rd-6th. This is the first time it has been held at Dawson Community College.

"The 2010 schedule was put together with an eye toward preparing our team to be their best at the end of the season. I am excited about the new additions to this schedule and look forward to continuing to play the best teams in the country," Reynolds stated. "Our 2009 schedule included 19 nationally ranked opponents and I foresee this one being just as tough. Preparation is important and meeting the challenges presented by playing a schedule like this helps our athletes when it comes to playing at the next level, at our region tournament, and at the national tournament. Our goals are the same every year and that is to win Region IX North and have our players continue their careers after Western Wyoming."

Breonna Phillips Article About Choosing Western Wyoming

2010-07-12T09:15:00.001-06:00

Here is an article about Breonna Phillips and her teammates from high school and their college choices. The article discusses Breonna choosing Western Wyoming to continue her volleyball career. This is from the Twin Falls Times-News.

http://www.magicvalley.com/sports/article_70ee8d39-3a90-5a14-98c9-a4977b030458.html

Cori Perrault Article About Joining Mustangs

2010-07-12T09:09:00.002-06:00

Here is an article written about Cori Perrault and her commitment to play for Western Wyoming. This was in her local paper the Las Cruces Sun-News.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sports/ci_15481425

Kara Cotter Signs with Western Wyoming

2010-06-29T07:29:00.003-06:00

Western Wyoming Community College has signed Kara Cotter to a National Letter of Intent announced head coach Rick Reynolds. Cotter, a 5'8 outside hitter from Hurricane, UT, will be joining the Mustangs this fall as a freshman.

"Kara is an exceptional volleyball player and athlete who will make an immediate impact on our team in all facets of the game," said Reynolds. "She is a great person, student, and competitor."

Cotter comes to Western Wyoming as a two-time Salt Lake Tribune All State selection. She helped lead her team to a state championship in her junior year and to a 3rd place finish as a sophomore and 5th place finish as a senior.

Mustang Volleyball Camp Schedule Released

2010-05-19T11:45:00.004-06:00

Mustang Volleyball Camp dates have been released. This year's schedule includes some changes and additions that should make each of our camps a great experience for those participating.

We will be hosting a Libero/Defense camp for those athletes who are seeking to improve their defense and passing skills. We will work on positioning and reading the game. Space is limited to ensure a qaulity experience for each camper.

Our setter camp returns for those setters out there who want to focus on improving their skills on how to run an offense, technique, jump setting, etc. We will focus on basic setting techniques to improve body posture, hand positioning, and set selection.

Hitter camp has been expanded to include an additional session so we can break the hitters down and emphasize more individual training. We will work on shot selection, different swing locations, proper swing techniques, reading the block and defense, and approach angles and footwork. All hitters are encouraged to particpate and we will allow each athlete to choose a position of emphasis.

Something new this year is the All Skills Day Camp. This is a one day camp for those who want a quick refresher of the skills and are just missing being in the gym. We will put everything together from our individual skill sessions and have a couple of fun sessions working on our overall game.

Also new this year is our Parent/Child Skills Camp. This is one camp we are really excited to add this year. Our sport is growing so much that we felt it was important for parents to get out there with their athletes and learn what volleyball is all about. We will work on the individual skills of the game and give the parents a chance to work with their children while learning more about the sport.

Mustang Volleyball Camp will have their Individual Skills Camp in July this year to give each participate a tryout warm up in the middle of the summer. This camp provides each athlete the chance to work on their skills in an intense volleyball environment. This is a commuter/resident camp.

Here is the schedule for the summer. For more information, please contact Rick Reynolds at Western Wyoming Community College or visit www.eliteelevation.com/MustangVolleyballCamps.htm.

Libero/Defense Camp
June 14
Grades 7th-12th
9:00-12:00 noon
Cost--$20 Before June 1st
Cost--$25 After June 1st
Space will be limited to 20 athletes.

Setter Camp
June 14
Grades 7th-12th
2:00-5:00 pm
Cost--$20 Before June 1st
Cost--$25 After June 1st
Space will be limited to 20 athletes.

Hitter Camp
June 15
Grades 7th-12th
9:00-12:00 noon, 1:30-4:30 pm
Cost--$35 Before June 1st
Cost--$45 After June 1st
Space will be limited to 20 athletes.

All Skills Day Camp
June 16
Grades 7th-12th
9:00-12:00 noon, 1:30-4:30 pm
Cost--$35 Before June 1st
Cost--$45 After June 1st
Space will be limited to 40 athletes.

Individual Skills Camp
July 7-9
Grades 7th-12th
Cost--$210 Before June 20th
Cost--$240 After June 20th
Space will be limited to 60 athletes.

Parent/Child Skills Camp
July 12
Grades 7th-12th
6:00-8:30 pm
Cost--$20 for Both Participants ($10 per person) Before June 1st
Cost--$15 per person After June 1st
Space will not be limited! :)

Kelsi Thornock Signs with Western Wyoming

2010-05-17T08:56:00.003-06:00

Western Wyoming Community College volleyball coach Rick Reynolds has announced the signing of Kelsi Thornock to a National Letter of Intent. Thornock, a 5'11 middle/right side hitter from Evanston, WY, will be joining the Mustangs in the fall as a freshman.

"Kelsi is a strong athlete who can come in a compete at multiple positions this fall for us," Reynolds stated. "She was our first commitment and has really grown since last May. Watching her and her team at Evanston go from not making it to state last year to being in the championship speaks volumes to her work ethic and determination to succeed."

Thornock is four-year varsity letter winner in volleyball culminating with her being All Conference and All State in her senior season. She also is a four-year letter winner in basketball and spent one varsity season with track. The future elementary education major has excelled in the classroom as well. She is a member of the National Honor Society, received multiple awards for her artwork--Digital Imaging Excellence Award, Drawing and Painting Outstanding Award, Overall Art Department Outstanding Award--, received Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Award for basketball and volleyball and is a member of the EHS Student Council.

Mustang Recruit Receives Western Wyoming's Top Academic Scholarship

2010-05-13T08:41:00.003-06:00

For Western Wyoming Community College volleyball program and Susan Lindley, April 30th was a great day. Lindley, a 5-11 outside hitter from Iona, ID, travelled to Rock Springs for an interview with members of the Superior Scholarship Committee. The Superior Scholarship covers full-time tuition and required fees, textbooks, housing, and meal plan costs. To qualify, students must have at least a 3.75 GPA and a 27 on the ACT.

Lindley, who is on track to be Bonneville High School's valedictorian, received word late last week that she received the scholarship. Head volleyball coach Rick Reynolds stated, "Susan is the epitome of what you are looking for in a student-athlete. She is an excellent student, a strong athlete, and above all, a great person. I'm excited that she is coming to Western Wyoming and is a part of our team. This is a great honor for her and our program."

Western Wyoming begins the 2010 season with their first tournament appearance in Lamar, CO on August 27th and 28th. The first home match of the season is August 31st against the Bruins of Salt Lake Community College in Rushmore Gymnasium. For more information on Mustang Volleyball, please visit www.wwcc.wy.edu.

Mustangs Host Clinic for Cub Scout Pack 57

2010-05-11T10:41:00.002-06:00

On April 26th, Western Wyoming Volleyball hosted a skills clinic for Cub Scout Pack 57. The Cub Scouts were trying to earn their Boy Scouts of America Athletic Belt Loop and Pin for Volleyball.

The Mustangs taught the 5-11 year olds the basic skills of volleyball--serving, hitting, passing, and setting. They also demostrated what a game would like with the help of Mustang Volleyball Club 18's team. The Cub Scouts took part in their own scrimmage and were able to demonstrate the skils learned during the clinic.

COMMITTED--10 Principles of the Mustang Way

2010-05-07T09:46:00.002-06:00

The last word of the 10 Principles that Create the Standards and Culture of the Mustang Way is COMMITTED.

The Mustang Way is built on being Committed to a high standard of excellence.

The expectations of a Mustang are high and anything less than meeting those expectations is not accepted. "Individual commitment to a group effort--that is what makes a team work." Lombardi

POWER--10 Principles of the Mustang Way

2010-05-05T09:18:00.002-06:00

The ninth word of the 10 Principles that Create the Standards and Culture of the Mustang Way is POWER.

We will take pride in being the strongest team from a fitness, agility, and strength perspective. We will also be tough mentally to handle any and all challenges we face. Preparation creates strength!

Mustangs Hand Out Awards at Annual Athletic Banquet

2010-04-28T08:10:00.002-06:00

Western Wyoming Community College held the Annual Athletic Banquet this past weekend at Santa Fe Southwest Grill in Rock Springs, WY. The banquet is an opportunity for each of the athletic programs to recognize outstanding achievements on and off the court.

Kaili Aiono and Alisha Kearsley walked away with top honors for the night as both received the prestigious NJCAA Distinguished Academic All American award given to athletes who have above a 3.8 GPA. Both were awarded Academic All American, Academic All Region and Academic All Conference awards as well.

Aiono also received an All Region IX North Team award for the second year in a row. She was joined on that team by Lundyn Decker, who also received this award for the second time, and Chelsea Sorensen. Decker and Sorensen were both voted to the WCCAC 2nd Team while Aiono received WCCAC 1st Team honors.

Three Mustangs joined Aiono and Kearsley on the WCCAC Academic All Conference Team including Jamie Goulding, Kirstin Knowles, and Hailey Orton. The Region IX North Academic All Region Team includes Aiono, Goulding, Kearsley, and Orton.

Here is a list of all of the accomplishments by this year's team presented at the Banquet:

All Region IX North Team
Kaili Aiono
Lundyn Decker
Chelsea Sorensen

Wyoming Community College Athletic Conference (WCCAC) 1st Team
Kaili Aiono

WCCAC 2nd Team
Lundyn Decker
Chelsea Sorensen

Region IX North All Tournament Team
Chelsea Sorensen

Distinguished Academic All American
Kaili Aiono
Alisha Kearsley

Academic All American
Kaili Aiono
Alisha Kearsley

Academic All Region
Kaili Aiono
Jamie Goulding
Alisha Kearsley
Hailey Orton

Academic All Conference
Kaili Aiono
Jamie Goulding
Alisha Kearsley
Kirstin Knowles
Hailey Orton

FUNDAMENTAL--10 Principles of the Mustang Way

2010-04-26T14:46:00.002-06:00

The eighth word of the 10 Principles that Create the Standards and Culture of the Mustang Way is FUNDAMENTAL.

The Mustang Way is built on being Fundamentally strong.

We will be the best at the basics and take advantage of our strengths; having an ability to serve, pass, set, block, and attack within the simplicity of volleyball. Work hard at the five main skills and recognize and maximize the places we excel.

Western Wyoming Volleyball Receives NJCAA Academic Team of the Year Award

2010-04-20T08:58:00.002-06:00

The National Junior College Athletic Association recently released their 2009 Fall Academic Teams of the Year. This award is given out each year to teams who achieve a minimum grade point average of a 3.0.

Western Wyoming Community College volleyball posted a 3.03 GPA and was among the 57 NJCAA volleyball schools to receive the award out of the approximately 315 schools that participate in the sport.

Mustang head coach Rick Reynolds had this to day about winning the award, "This is a great honor for our school and program. We receive this recognition with the knowledge that our goal is to have a 3.3 every semester. This is a step in achieving our goal and it is always exciting to be recognized for our work in the classroom."

Candace Clifford Signs with Western Wyoming

2010-04-20T08:27:00.002-06:00

Candace Clifford, a 5'8 left side hitter from South Weber, UT, has signed a National Letter of Intent to join Western Wyoming Community College in the fall announced head coach Rick Reynolds.

"Candace is a great athlete, who is known by those around her as a hard worker and tough competitor," mentioned Reynolds. "Her ball control, defense, ability to hit multiple shots, and passion will be a great addition to our gym."

Clifford was on the Salt Lake Tribune First Team All State and Deseret News Third Team All State. She led her Northridge High School team to a Region 1 Championship this past fall.

DEPENDABILITY--10 Principles of the Mustang Way

2010-03-18T15:14:00.002-06:00

The seventh word of the 10 Principles that Create the Standards and Culture of the Mustang Way is DEPENDABILITY.

The Mustang Way is built on being Dependable.

Doing your best at all times and being someone that can be counted on are vital for you. Turning in your assignments on time, being responsible on and off the court, and being willing to do what it takes to reach your full potential are attributes of dependable people.

COMMUNITY--10 Principles of the Mustang Way

2010-03-17T13:41:00.002-06:00

The sixth word of the 10 Principles that Create the Standards and Culture of the Mustang Way is COMMUNITY.

The Mustang Way is built on being involved and making a positive impact on our Community.

Are you a leader in the classroom? Are you a leader in the dorms? Are you making an impact on this college and community? Giving back to this college and community should be a personal goal. This opportunity is not afforded to everyone and you should share your experience with those in this community and find ways of making those who have helped you feel important along the way.

PASSION--10 Principles of the Mustang Way

2010-03-11T13:28:00.002-07:00

The fifth word of the 10 Principles that Create the Standards and Culture of the Mustang Way is PASSION.

The Mustang Way is built on doing everything with the Passion it deserves.

This program is going to achieve greatness and you have to decide if you have the Passion to be a part of it. When times get hard and difficult, Passion is what pulls you through. Greatness is not easily attained and will take passionate people to achieve.

PRIDE--10 Principles of the Mustang Way

2010-03-02T10:11:00.002-07:00

The fourth word of the 10 Principles that Create the Standards and Culture of the Mustang Way is PRIDE.

The Mustang Way is built on taking Pride in everything you do.

Everything you do has your personal signature on it. Take pride in our facilities, our staff, the Mustang, the community, how you do things, your appearance, your effort, etc. "The greatest pride of all comes being a part of something that you could never do alone."

Montana Western Press Release for Alisha Kearsley

2010-02-19T14:58:00.004-07:00

Here is the press release for Alisha Kearsley signing with the University of Montana Western. This is a great opportunity for her. Western Wyoming Volleyball wishes her the best as she pursues academic and athletic excellence at Montana Western.

http://news.umwestern.edu/2010/02/bulldog-volleyball-lands-idaho-star/

Tryouts on February 27th at 9:00 am

2010-02-16T16:36:00.002-07:00

Anyone interested in trying out for the Western Wyoming Volleyball team will need to email Coach Reynolds at rreynolds@wwcc.wy.edu. The tryouts will start at 9:00 am and end at 11:00 am. We will do a campus tour immediately following the tryout. There is also a women's and men's basketball game that afternoon. Admission to this event will be free to those who attend the tryout and their families.

We are not charging a tryout fee. We feel it is important to host an open tryout. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Coach Reynolds.

Sideout with a MVP--Mustang Volleyball Player--Chelsea Sorensen

2010-02-10T14:05:00.003-07:00

Sideout with a Mustang Volleyball Player (MVP) will give the followers of Western Wyoming Volleyball a chance to get to know the team.

Chelsea Sorensen, 6-4 middle hitter from Riverton, UT, was an All-Region Team member in 2009. This past fall, Chelsea had over 400 kills while hitting .350. She is studying nursing and plans to attend a four-year school after next season. The following are some questions she was asked this past fall and her answers.

Western Wyoming Volleyball: Who has been the biggest influence on your life?

Chelsea Sorensen: My family.

WWV: What is your favorite movie?

CS: She's the Man.

WWV: Who is your favorite athlete?

CS: Michael Jordan.

WWV: If you could be on a reality show, which show would you like to be on?

CS: Wipe Out.

WWV: Do you have any pregame rituals?

CS: Listen to music.

WWV: Nobody knows how much you like to do what?

CS: Hang out with my sisters.

WWV: What is your favorite color?

CS: Red.

WWV: What is the last book you read?

CS: Twilight Series.

WWV: What is your favorite place to eat?

CS: Cafe Rio.

WWV: Why did you choose Western Wyoming?

CS: Close to home and the nursing program.

Look forward to future installments of Sideout with a Mustang Volleyball Player.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE--10 Principles of the Mustang Way

2010-02-01T10:20:00.003-07:00

The third word of of the 10 Principles that Create the Standards and Culture of the Mustang Way is ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

The Mustang Way is built on being the best student you can be.

Class and study hall are important; your education is why you are here. Anything short of your best effort in the classroom is unacceptable. Your top priority should be to get a degree. Athletics is your avenue but your degree is your future. Excellence in the classroom will lead to success in other parts of your life.

WORK--10 Principles of the Mustang Way

2010-01-28T13:11:00.002-07:00

Our second word of the 10 Principles that Create the Standards and Culture of the Mustang Way is WORK.

The Mustang Way is built on the foundation of hard WORK.

Our thought process will always be one of we deserve to win because we have worked harder than our opponent in all phases of being a student-athlete. "Nothing will work unless you do." "You don't get much done if you only work on the days that you feel good." "Spectacular achievements are always preceded by unspectacular preparation."

TRUST--10 Principles of the Mustang Way

2010-01-27T09:29:00.003-07:00

Our first word of the 10 Principles that Create the Standards and Culture of the Mustang Way is TRUST.

The Mustang Way is built on TRUST.

This encompasses all aspects of each of our lives, on the court and off. We will always communicate honestly and open. Any issues will be confronted with what is best for the team at the forefront of the discussion. Your actions should reflect those of an individual who is trustworthy. TRUST ensures Respect, Responsibility, and Reliability!

Look for the next principle to be posted soon.