Holli Reyna Voted WJCAC Coach of the Year, Iva Popovic Named MVP

New Mexico Junior College volleyball head coach Holli Reyna was voted WJCAC Coach of the Year for the 2022 season. Reyna directed the Thunderbirds to a 25-7 record in her first season as head coach. She also led the T-Birds to their first WJCAC title in school history.

Under her eye, NMJC set a school record in wins (25), conference wins (12), consecutive wins (12), home wins/record (10-1), and winning percentage (.781).  

Reyna helped guide the Thunderbirds to the Region V West Championship game for the second consecutive season. However, NMJC fell in three sets to New Mexico Military Institute. 

The No. 10 T-Birds learned on Wednesday that they were unable to earn one of the two coveted at-large bids to the NJCAA DI Volleyball National Tournament. The Thunderbirds capped off their historic season in 2022 with a 25-7 record (12-2 in conference).

The T-Bird volleyball squad was honored this week with three players named to the WJCAC All-Conference team and one player named All-Conference Honorable Mention.

Iva Popovic was named the WJCAC Most Valuable Player (MVP) and All-Conference for the 2022 season. Popovic was third in the nation in kills with 497 in the regular season. Popovic also set the NMJC school record in kills on Nov. 5 in the Region V West semifinal. She recorded 28 kills in the five-set win over Midland College. 

The Belgrade, Serbia native averaged 4.54 kills and five points per set (No. 3 in the NJCAA). The freshman outside hitter was No. 5 in the NJCAA in points with 554 during the regular season. Popovic also added 355 digs defensively and 19 double-doubles this season.

Setter Lacie Schooley was voted to the WJCAC All-Conference team. Schooley finished the regular season with 1056 assists (No. 12 in the NJCAA) and 9.60 assists per set (No. 10 in NJCAA). 

The Roswell, NM native finished the year with a team-leading 20 double-doubles. Schooley set a school record on Sept. 2 with 60 assists in a five-set loss to Trinity Valley. The sophomore also holds the regular season career school record in assists with 2064 over a two-year period.

Outside hitter Maggie Machado was the fourth player named to the WJCAC All-Conference team for NMJC. She registered 336 kills, 442 digs, and 18 double-doubles in the 2022 season.

Libero Milena Cernjanski was voted All-Conference Honorable Mention for WJCAC. Cernjanski finished the regular season with 390 digs, including a school record 38 digs in a five-set win over NMMI.