WNCC volleyball inks three WyoBraska players

                When Emma Hergenreder, Allie Twamley, and Reese Fleck came to Western Nebraska Community College for a recruiting visit, little did they know that the three players all would end up signing to play volleyball for the Cougars.

                Hergenreder, from Scottsbluff, Twamley from Cheyenne Central, and Fleck from North Platte St. Pats all had successful careers at their high school and now they are ready to lead the Cougars next year.

                “When we all came to visit on the same day, I felt very relieved knowing there were other girls in the same position as me,” Hergenreder said. “Right away we all clicked and that visit was the best one I had in my entire recruiting process. It is very special because we all formed a bond from that visit and we got along very well, and we can continue that bond for the next couple of years.”

                Twamley, who was a club teammate with Hergenreder, agreed and is ready for the next chapter in her volleyball career.

                “I think it is really special that Emma, Reese, and I all got to tryout on the same day with each other. It was relieving to have two other people with me at the tryout because that is naturally going to be a very intimidating process,”” Twamley said. “I found peace and was able to perform at a high level because I felt very comfortable knowing that there were two other people who were probably feeling the exact same way that I was that day. I am excited that I get to play with both of them in the fall!”

            For Twamley, she picked WNCC for several reasons and WNCC wasn’t in the picture until Hergenreder told her about the school.

            “I found out about WNCC through Emma,” Twamley said. “WNCC wasn’t even in the picture until a week before I verbally committed. I had been intently looking at Otero and giving LCCC a shot, but when I heard about WNCC and met Coach B (Fatima Balza) on a zoom, I felt that this place was something special that I wanted to be a part of for a few small years of my life.

            “I am very happy that me and Emma get to keep playing volleyball together in the fall. She is my best friend and I never thought that I would get to go to college with my best friend, let alone be their roommate and play the same sport with them. It is something I will never take for granted, and I am very happy that volleyball has let us get so close!”

            And Twamley was the first of the three to officially commit to the Cougars of the three because it was an pretty easy decision since Cheyenne is just a 90-minute drive home.

            “I chose WNCC because I knew this program was going to push me to become a better version of myself both on and off the court, as well as in the classroom,” the 5-foot-7 setter said. “I am excited by the competition in this program because everyone works hard to be the best they can be, and I like working together with people who enjoy the process and pushing each other. Also, I am looking forward to developing a greater connection with the community of Scottsbluff because the volleyball program largely impacts the community in many ways. Lastly, I am excited to pursue my career in nursing and ultimately become a NICU nurse because I enjoy helping people and giving them the best chance at living their life to the fullest.”

            Fleck’s visit to WNCC came since she knew about WNCC from her families’ friend Jenna Curtis, an Ogallala graduate. Curtis was a standout outside hitter at WNCC and finished her collegiate playing this year at South Dakota School of Mines.

            “Being from Nebraska I have always known about WNCC. Our Family friend Jenna Curtis played for WNCC a few years ago and enjoyed her time,” Fleck, the 5-foot-6 libero/defensive specialist, said. “I think that going on our visit together and all deciding that WNCC was the place for us is a connection that we will have together through these next two years. Being able to go through this transition together is very special to do with these two.”

                Fleck also had a handful of colleges to choose for, but WNCC was always at the top of the list. Now, she is hoping she can duplicate the success from her family-friend Curtis, who was part of a Region IX championship team when she was a Cougar.

                “I chose Western Nebraska for a few reasons, but mostly because of the impression Coach Balza made on me,” Fleck said. “Coach Balza made me feel as if she was looking out for what was best for me and my future. The expectations that Coach Balza has for this program are very high and that is something that I want to be a part of.”

                Now, Fleck is ready to play college volleyball where she garnered 1,167 career digs in her four years at North Platte St. Pats, including 540 digs her senior year.

                “Having the opportunity to play college volleyball is something that I am excited about.  The opportunity to develop as a person and a player is something that I look forward to in my transition from high school into my college years,” Fleck said. “I think having community support and a sense of direction and belonging is important.  Being a college athlete is an opportunity.  It's the chance to push yourself and find out things about yourself that you never thought were possible.  It gives me the opportunity to make some lifelong friends and become part of something that is bigger than me.    

                Hergenreder, who played four years at Scottsbluff and tallied 691 career kills, including 333 last season for the Bearcats with 49 aces, and 296 digs, originally committed with an NAIA school in South Dakota, but then realized that JUCO was the route to go.

                “I chose WNCC because I have been around this program since I was very young. I’ve seen the legacy and the traditions this program has grown and I wanted to be a part of it. I also chose it because my family can continue to watch me play for the next two years, which means a lot to me.”

                Hergenreder always knew she wanted to play college volleyball and has planning on it since her freshman year, going through the recruiting process.

                “It has always been my dream to play college volleyball. Ever since middle school I knew I wanted to play at the next level and I have been working on that goal since I was a freshman in high school,” the 5-foot-11 outside hitter said. “I was looking at several 4-year schools, but realized that JUCO was the route I wanted to go. I had been going through the recruiting process since my freshman year, so I had a handful of schools who were willing to give me an opportunity on their team, but none of them beat WNCC. After WNCC I hope to play at a 4-year somewhere a little further away. I would like to continue playing as long as possible.”

                Twamley was another one that knew from a young age that she wanted to play college volleyball. Twamley grew up in California and moved to Cheyenne a couple years ago. It wasn’t until the COVID-19 shutdown that she knew she wanted to do this in college.

                “I knew from a young age that I wanted to play college volleyball, but it wasn’t until I was 14 during the COVID19 shutdown that I really believed that it was an accomplishable goal. During the shutdown, I signed up for Kerri Walsh’s Virtual P1440 volleyball training camp,” Twamley said. “This camp was my introduction to weight lifting and jump training, which are the athletic skills I pride myself in the most because the workouts I do on my own time, by myself, are the most difficult, so I know that if I can endure that, I can endure so much more on the court. After WNCC, I would love to continue playing at an even higher level if I can find a school that will let me play volleyball and major in nursing at the same time because this is actually very hard to find.”

            The move to Cheyenne a few years ago from Visalia, California, was one that Twamley has embraced.

“I really enjoyed the move from California to Wyoming because it has been a great experience with two beautiful states and I have gotten to meet so many cool people in both states,” she said. “My club team in California taught me all of my foundational volleyball skills, such as having a growth mindset, being a great teammate, and valuing the process. Even though I live in Wyoming now, I still carry everything I learned from them with me because I would be nowhere near where I am today without them.”

Now, she will be in her third state since COVID hit in 2020 and looking forward to the new beginnings playing college volleyball.

“It means a lot to me that I get to play volleyball at the college level because it means I get to continue to inspire all of the teammates I have ever had, to work hard for what they believe in, and that their dedication and passion will come to fruition if they keep at it,” Twamley said. “I am very grateful that God gave me this opportunity to play college ball because I recognize that not many girls get to play at this level, whether it is because they lost their love for the sport or other reasons. I am excited to represent what hard work can do for a person in such little time, seeing as I only became a setter my sophomore year. I know I am a role model for some of the volleyball players I have encountered, and I take it to heart that I can be that person for someone, and I don’t want to let them down.”

Better yet, the three should have a lot of fan support as all three are along the I-80 route. Fleck has the longest route for family and friends to come as North Platte is about a three hour drive while Twamley is just 90 minutes. Hergenreder has the shortest distance as she is staying home.

And, when WNCC travels to Laramie County and North Platte next year to play, the Cougars should have a good fan base. North Platte Community College will be a part of Division I JUCO sports next year along with Southeast Community College.

“I think it is incredible that I get to live only an hour and a half from home because I will still be able to have people I’ve met through the sport in my life,” Twamley said. “I have already had so many people come up to me saying that they are super excited that I stayed so close to home because they will only have to drive to Scottsbluff to see me play, and when we come to LCCC it will be even better.”

For Fleck, she knew she wanted to play college volleyball since her sophomore year at North Platte St. Pats. She, too, doesn’t have far to run home for a weekend or evening. Plus her high school plays a lot of western Nebraska schools.

“I always knew I wanted to play a college sport. It wasn't until my sophomore year of high school that I knew volleyball was the route I wanted to take,” Fleck, who was also a standout basketball player for St. Pats, said. “My goal is to improve as much as I can here at WNCC, and then hopefully get the opportunity to continue my volleyball career after.

                “My goals for next year as a freshman are to contribute what I can to the team and a team goal would be to win regionals and make it to the national tournament. I am also looking forward to making friendships that will last a lifetime.”

                Then there is Hergenreder, who will be living the Cougar blue and gold that she grew up watching as a youngster when she was one of the ball girls for the team.

“I’ve known about WNCC my whole life,” Hergenreder said. “When I was younger, I used to be the ball girl and that’s when my love for the program started. My family would constantly go to the games and it quickly became a dream of mine to play here.”

Plus, her mom and dad will get to see her play more often now.  But she will also be living in the dorms to get a feel of being away from home but still so close to home.

“I’m very excited to be able to play so close to home. It gives my family and friends an opportunity to continue watching me play and for me to feel that love and support so closely,” she said. “Being able to continue playing with Allie is so special to me. Me and Allie formed such a strong friendship over this club season and she quickly became my best friend. During club, our setter-hitter connection was very strong, so I’m excited to see it grow stronger throughout these next seasons!”

                Now, Hergenreder can relax, enjoy her final months of high school, and then get ready for the summer workouts for the collegiate season.

                “To be a Cougar means the world to me. It is something I never thought I would have the chance to be a part of and now that I can finally say I’m a member of this team is surreal. I am very excited to have the opportunity to live up to my younger self’s dreams,” Hergenreder, the pre-physical therapy major, said. “To play college volleyball is very special to me. I have been working towards this goal for several years and being able to continue my career in this sport means everything.”