By Hayden Carter

Reporter

Approximately 1220 miles separate the campuses of Western Nebraska Community College and California State University, Bakersfield. But, if you looked at the volleyball roster, you would think WNCC was right down the street from CSUB.

A junior college located in Scottsbluff, NE has been a reliable source of talent for the volleyball team here at CSUB for the last couple years. And according to CSUB’s director of volleyball Giovana Melo, the relationship started between the two schools because of two players.

“It started with [former players] Debora Araujo and Fernanda Goncalves and it was really out of nowhere,” said Melo. “[The old volleyball coaches] were really into junior college players and they knew [Araujo and Goncalves] were experienced and would help the program.”

Melo was very successful at Western Nebraska, reaching five National Junior College Athletic Association final fours and winning the NJCAA national championship in 2010.

Melo, as a student-athlete, played volleyball at Western Nebraska for two years before transferring to Arizona State. She also served as the head coach for six years at WNCC before taking over the volleyball program here at CSUB.

“I had an amazing experience there,” said Melo. “I grew a lot as a coach and I learned a lot of things I needed to learn to be where I am now.”

A total of five student-athletes have transferred from the junior college volleyball powerhouse to CSUB, three of who are currently on this year’s roster.

“I think when one player does it, many start following in their footsteps,” said Melo. “For the ones that I personally coached [at Western Nebraska], it was an easy way to come [to CSUB]. I think it comes down to wanting to play with each other again.”

One of those players is middle blocker Megan Johnson, a redshirt junior from Sandy, Utah.

“I came to CSUB because all my coaches from Western Nebraska came here and I loved playing for them,” said Johnson. “I thought it was an awesome opportunity to come here.”

The two other student-athletes currently on the roster from Western Nebraska are senior outside-hitter Danika Youngblood and junior setter Luiza Martins.

“I think it’s good coming in with [student-athletes] who know her expectations,” said senior middle blocker Molly O’Hagan. “Especially with a new coach, it’s nice to have people who have [played] in her system before. So, it’s not like we’re starting from zero. We kind of already have a foundation of players who know what to do.”

Johnson believes so many players are coming to CSUB because of coach Melo.

“[Melo] is just such a good coach,” said Johnson. “I mean, she had a great program at Western Nebraska, and she just knows what she’s doing. She’s an awesome coach. She has a lot of faith in every player. I was sort of always an underdog with my height at my position, but she just knows that every player has the potential to be really good. I really like that about her.”

Looking forward, coach Melo says she will still utilize WNCC and other junior colleges as a recruiting source for future student-athletes.

“WNCC is where I started and is where I’ll always go back to,” said Melo. “We need to get the culture of this program to change a little bit, so we can get more Bakersfield volleyball players, because there is a lot of talent around here.”

The ‘Runners conclude the regular season this week as they host Utah Valley University on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. and Seattle University on Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. at the Icardo Center. The ‘Runners will then compete in the WAC tournament the following weekend.