2011-2012 Team

The focus for the 2011 volleyball season is to build on the successful 2010 season. With a 20-16 overall record in 2010, the first winning season in school history, Coach Sheldon Carvalho enters his second season determined to take his program to the next level. After learning of the talented teams and players housed in the WJCAC, coach Carvalho has been on the recruiting trail bringing in talented players to match up with his conference foes.  Carvalho has brought in the help of several players from Hawaii, Utah and home grown Texans.

With coaching roots in one of the nation’s most successful volleyball programs, BYU Hawaii (10 national championships), the energetic volleyball aficionado looks to inject a new level of commitment into the 2011 season. “Last year was a great learning experience for me to know what type of talent the WJCAC has and I was very proud of the team achieving their goal of a 20 game winning season. We have made great strides and I made a commitment to myself to bring in hardworking and talented players so we could match up with our opponents. This year, during the recruiting process, I looked at bringing in players that will be committed to each other, the program and to reach their highest potential,” according to Carvalho.

WTC returns five players from last year’s squad that finished 20-16 overall, and 2-6 in conference play. Returners include All-Conference setter, Peyton Evans (Riverton, UT), All-Conference Honorable Mention Libero/DS, Cherish Tua (Lehi, UT), Middle/Right Side, Gabriella Feliciano (Draper, UT), Middle, Morgan Brown (Cleburne, TX) and Red Shirt Outside Hitter Aubrey Muaina (Highland, Utah). “The five returners have committed to taking this year’s team to another level and I look to capitalize on the experience and leadership of our returners this coming season,” assessed Carvalho. Another “so called returner” Middle, Diana Wilt who played in 2009, will finish up her sophomore season this year and brings added experience to the team.

Carvalho expects newcomers Outside Hitter, Natalie Davis (Abilene Wiley, TX) whose team finished 3rd in state at the Volleyball 3A level and received numerous All-District, All-State and All-Tournament team honors, Kayla Vernor (Uvalde, TX) 4A All-State team member as a Libero, and Natallia Cravens (Laie, HI) starting middle for the 2009 OIA champions and finished 3rd in the State of Hawaii High School Volleyball Tournament.  “These three incoming freshmen will bring in a competitive edge and athleticism that will be needed to compete in the WJCAC,” noted the WTC Kanaka Maoli.

Tapping into other talented players, Carvalho looks for help from setter Rylee Garver, earning 1st team all-region honors during her senior campaign. In addition to Garver, the 6’1” Middle/Right Side, Amanda Tonga, a transfer from New Mexico State University, will help with the front court pending the health of her shoulder. Tonga had shoulder surgery in the spring and looks to rebound from that injury to help the Lady Westerners with added fire power.

Other newcomers that will bring some enthusiasm and skill to the program are Middle/Right Side, Alexa Joseph, and Utility player, Morgan Dumas.

The Lady Westerners look to be on the road to Clarendon, Texas for NJCAA regional play at the conclusion of the regular season. Clarendon hosts the regional tournament November 4th-5th, with the winner advancing to the national championships.

Last Modified: December 12, 2011