It didn’t take long for the Odessa College volleyball team to find out who its first round opponent would be in the NJCAA Tournament as the bracket was unveiled Thursday.
The players and coaches had gathered together for a watch party at the Campus Center to watch a broadcast of the tournament bracket being revealed and Odessa College was quickly announced as the No. 8 seed.
The Lady Wranglers (28-6) celebrated at their announcement and then celebrated again when their first round opponent was announced.
Odessa College will be facing No. 9 seed Southern Idaho (25-8) out of the Scenic West Athletic Conference at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Hutch Sports Arena in Hutchinson, Kan.
It’s a team the Lady Wranglers have already gone up against this season, defeating the Golden Eagles in four sets back on Aug. 31 in a tournament game in Salt Lake City, Utah.
While it’s a team that the Lady Wranglers have beaten this season, Odessa College head coach Dayna Acevedo-Rios and her players know that it’s been a long time since they’ve faced each other and both teams are different.
“I don’t know if it’s good that it’s a familiar face,” Acevedo-Rios said. “When we saw them it was so early on the season and every single team has developed and evolved. Just like we’re not the same team that we were at the beginning of the season, they aren’t the same team that they were. Even though we beat them, the fact that they made it here means they’ve come a long way. I’m excited. The girls are excited. We’re going to take it one game at a time.”
Florida Southwestern (27-1) is the No. 1 seed and will face 16-seed Colby Community College (22-9).
The winner of the Odessa College-Southern Idaho game will get to face the winner of the Florida Southwestern-Colby Community College in the second round.
“I think it’s going to be a very good tournament,” Acevedo-Rios said. “I think everyone that made has earned their way. All the teams are very competitive it’s going to be a battle. Anyone can beat anyone since everyone is good and everyone wants the same thing.”
That’s not to say there weren’t any surprises during the bracket reveal as some schools will be missing out on the tournament.
New Mexico Military Institute (28-6) was left out after failing to receive an at-large bid.
Instead, New Mexico Junior College, who the Lady Wranglers defeated in the runner-up game at the Region 5 tournament last week to clinch a spot in the national tournament, received an at-large bid.
New Mexico Junior College (29-6) will face Navarro College as the No. 10 seed in the first round next week.
“I knew it was going to be a really tough to make,” Acevedo-Rios said. “It’s a job that I wouldn’t want to have in deciding at large bids. But New Mexico Junior College is really deserving. They had a great regional tournament. They took us to five and then they beat NMMI. They showed grit and determination in the tournament. They’re deserving. It’s exciting to see our region well-represented at the tournament.”
Weatherford College, which won the Region 5 championship last week against Odessa College, will be a No. 6 seed in the tournament, facing Blinn College in the first round.
“It shows how good our conference is when anyone can come in and not everyone is an automatic bid,” Acevedo-Rios said. “Everyone pushes each other. It shows how good we are as a conference.”
It’s the first national tournament appearance for the Lady Wranglers since the spring of 2021 and the first trip to the tournament for Acevedo-Rios as head coach of Odessa College.
“It’s really exciting,” Devyn Lewis said. “I think it’s great to bring this type of excitement back to the program. It’s something the volleyball program hasn’t done in a while. It’s especially exciting for coach Dayana and her first tournament appearance. It’s fun for all of us to experience this together.”
While the Lady Wranglers and the Golden Eagles are different teams than when they last faced each other, Lewis is still excited for a chance to face a familiar foe.
“I think it’s always exciting to get matched up with a team that you’ve faced before, whether you’ve beaten them or not,” Lewis said. “You know that matchup and everyone’s gotten better since then but it’s always great to know that you’ve seen them and they’ve seen you before. It’ll be fun.”
Kayla Williams is also excited to be playing in next week’s tournament.
“I think we’re going to do great things,” Williams said. “Through all the ups and downs this season, it shows how we’ve pushed through and shown up at the right time so we can get into the national tournament.”
Like everyone else, Williams was shocked to not see New Mexico Military Institute not get an invite.
“I’m surprised NMMI didn’t get in but I’m happy for all the teams that made it,” Williams said. “it’s just cool seeing these teams make it. it’s a privilege to be able to make it to this tournament.”
The other tournament first round games include No. 4-seed Sal Lake facing No. 13 Indian Hills while No. 5 Trinity Valley will face No. 12 Daytona State.
No. 2 Northeastern will go up against No. 15 Mineral Area and No. 3 Miami Dade will face No. 14 Casper.
