ROCK SPRINGS – Many residents of Sweetwater County have grown up with the athletic teams at Western Wyoming Community College. They have watched teams start as small clubs and felt the excitement when the teams started breaking into the top 20 in national polls.

When it comes to Mustang volleyball, fans have become accustomed to seeing Western Wyoming near the top of the national polls and leading the standing in Region IX year in and year out. This year, the Mustangs will again be shooting for those top honors.

Since being reinstated in 2001, Western Wyoming has won the Region IX North four times: in 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2011. The Mustangs also have been successful on a national level. In 2004, the Mustangs finished eighth in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s National Championship. In 2006 they finished 13th, in 2010 the Mustangs finished third and in 2011 the Mustangs came up just short of a National title finishing second.

Not only do the Mustangs strive for excellence on the court, they also have high standards in the classroom. The team had a 3.60 grade point average last year and recently received their fourth consecutive AVCA Team Academic Award. In the 2013-2014 season, Western Volleyball finished second in the NJCAA Academic Team of the Year Award rankings.

On the court, the team is coming off another solid season with a record of 30-6 and a second place finish in the Region IX North Conference.The team is bringing back a solid core from last year’s team with eight sophomores returning to the court. One big name that will be in a leadership role for the Mustangs this year is Caroline Hansen. As a freshman, Hansen was named to the All Region team as well as the All Tournament team.

The Mustangs will have nine new freshman coming in this year. While they may be new to WWCC, many of the faces may be very familiar to fans as several Wyoming standouts will be going to battle as Mustangs. They include Mishawn Bluemel from Lyman, Madison Vicker from Kemmerer and Chambrie Lawrence of Wright.

Bluemel will bring some power to the middle. Standing 5-foot, 10-inches, Bluemel was one of the leaders for the Lyman Eagles last season.

Vickery is 5-foot, nine-inches and was an outside hitter for the Kemmerer Rangers last year. Vickery helped lead the Rangers to the 2A State Championship in 2013. Look for Vickery to play a little libero this season.

Other recent additions to the Mustangs include 5-foot, 7-inch Kelsee Carlsen from Smithfield, Utah. She played as an outside hitter and libero for Sky View High School last season.

Coming in from Provo, Utah is Lauryn Dela Cruz. Cruz also stands 5-foot, 7-inches. Cruz played outside hitter at Timpview High School and Aces Volleyball Club.

Another Utah player, Alexa Goulding, will be joining the Mustangs this season. Goulding is a 5-foot, 9-inch setter from St. George. Goulding played at Desert Hills High School and the Hurricane Valley Volleyball Club.

The Mustangs will get the season started right here in Rushmore Gym as they will play host to the Holiday Inn Classic, Aug. 22 and Aug. 23. On Aug. 28, the Mustangs will again play host to Colorado Northwestern at 6 p.m. also at Rushmore Gym. The team will then head to Salt Lake City for the annual Salt Lake Invitational on Aug. 29 and Aug. 30 before returning home for two more games  on Sept. 1 and Sept. 5.

2014-2015 WWCC Mustang Volleyball Roster

2014-2015 WWCC Mustang Volleyball Schedule

(Home games are in bold)