Coyotes take dominance into postseason

To say the Weatherford College Coyotes have had a dominant volleyball season would be like saying everyone loves bacon.

After all, whether it's the pork product or the actor named Kevin, bacon is one of the most popular things on the planet.

And the Coyotes are one of the most dominant volleyball teams to be found. They enter the Region V Tournament - which they are hosting, by the way, at the Betty Jo Graber Athletic Center Nov. 6-8 - as the No. 2 team in the nation.

Their only losses in a 29-2 season so far have come to No. 1 Miami Dade and No. 3 Florida Southwestern State. They also have wins over No. 17 Indian Hills and No. 20 Daytona State.

This is the second time in three seasons the Coyotes are hosting the regional tournament. The first time in 2023, they won and propelled themselves to their first of back-to-back trips to the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament.

This season the regional champion and runner-up will both earn berths at the national championships in Clarksville, Tennessee Nov. 19-22.

"I am so excited to host the tournament," said head coach Kailee May. "It's a lot of work getting everything ready for the teams to arrive and a lot of planning for everything to go smoothly, but it's a huge advantage to be home again, and I have such positive memories of winning at home two years ago. We are hoping for another successful tournament and have been preparing all season long to play our best at home."

Since Weatherford College added volleyball four years ago, May has led the Coyotes to four consecutive Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference championships. They are 58-3 in league play during that span, including a 39-match conference winning streak.

Overall, May has led the Coyotes to a 115-24 record. Part of this is a 51-3 record at home, including 14-0 this season.

While they are home, May is expecting her team to be challenged in the Region V Tournament. Along with her own squad, the field includes fellow powerhouses No. 8 Odessa, No. 11 Frank Phillips and No. 12 New Mexico Military from the Western Junior College Athletic Conference. Rounding out the tournament are New Mexico Junior College and Midland College from the WJCAC and Hill, Vernon and Ranger from the NTJCAC.

"The tournament is going to be tough. We will most likely have to make it through two other ranked teams in order to win, but I do think the team is prepared and up for the challenge," she said.

The Coyotes have yet to go a full five games in a match this season. Of their 29 wins, 27 have been 3-0 sweeps, including 17 straight. Only once in their 18-0 conference run this season did a team take a game from them within a match, North Central Texas College.

"We are playing our best volleyball at the right time," May said. "The team is so hungry for more competition and they have done an amazing job staying focused on big goals for the past few months. I think they are prepared mentally and physically for the matches ahead and are excited for postseason play."

Throughout the season, the Coyotes also dominated the Conference Player of the Week honors. Four players received the honor twice, freshman outside hitter Beline Thibaut (the only one to be named for offense and defense), freshman outside hitter Mirabel Onyegwu (offense), sophomore outside hitter Weronika Urbanska (offense) and sophomore defensive specialist/libero Kiana Souza (defense). Recently, freshman middle blocker Glorybell Puente (offense) and freshman setter Ally McCabe (defense) received the accolade. 

Urbanska and Souza are two of nine sophomores on the Coyotes' roster, along with 10 freshmen. May said the sophomores from last season have done an exceptional job at preparing the freshmen for what's ahead.

"There are high expectations on this team and it's because of the precedent that has been passed on over the last two seasons," she said. "These girls want to win and want to compete, and the standard began two years ago – we make the national tournament and we work like a team that wants to win a national championship. They have all had that mindset from the beginning and I'm proud of how focused they've been on the end game.

"This group of girls is truly something special. Our sophomores have been great leaders and taken such pride in being a Coyote, and our freshmen have followed suit. I know we're looking at an exciting few weeks ahead and can't wait to see how the team comes together next week for the tournament."