The success of the 2021-22 Eastern Wyoming College volleyball team will depend greatly on the performance and availability of it's incoming recruiting class.

With eight new players from four countries and four U.S. states, head coach Dante Geoffrey once again brings in an eclectic group of talent to continue EWC's climb up the NJCAA food chain. And following a year in which injuries, illness and other circumstances (some foreseen, many not) posed season-long challenges to the Lancers, depth and positional interchangeability will be valued more than ever.

One incoming freshman will already be familiar to Torrington volleyball fans. Morgan Bates, a 5-foot, 6-inch setter, joins the Lancers after a decorated career at Torrington High School, where she helped her Blazers advance to the WHSAA 3A State Tournament in three of her four years. 

"Morgan is a hard-working and versatile player," Geoffrey said. "She can obviously run an offense as a setter but also has a strong serve as well as the athleticism and willingness to find a role as a defensive specialist. She's going to find ways to impact winning and I'm very confident about the character she brings to our program."

Bates joins sophomore Dani Masterson as EWC's hometown players.

Another duo of high school teammates will play for the Lancers this fall. Gareth Bruce and Fatima Ramirez, of Belize, are an exciting pair that will infuse the program with battle-tested talent.

"These two players have been in the works since the beginning of 2020," Geoffrey said. "We are so thrilled to have them finally be a part of what we are building here. Their experience representing Belize in international play is a testament to their dedication and talent, and also means they will be ready to compete at a high level."

Bruce is a 5-foot, 3-inch pin hitter with an elite vertical jump, while Ramirez is a dynamic 6-foot opposite hitter, a rare find in the NJCAA.

"Both of them have tremendous skills that will immediately impact our team in a positive way," Geoffrey said. "And they still have a lot of room for growth. As Gareth and Fatima get comfortable at our school and in our system they will get even better. They are both great, hard-working people, so the potential is the most exciting part to me."

A third international newcomer, Asli Erdi, is also no stranger to high-level volleyball. A native of Izmir, Turkey, Erdi shined while facing the challenges of Turkey's competitive leagues. Erdi is a 5'11" middle with the training and volleyball IQ to excel in EWC's offense.

"It didn't take long to realize that she would be able to run our tempo, keep opposing defenses on their toes, and provide a real threat that would give our offense balance throughout every rotation," Geoffrey said. "Plus, she's one of the nicest people you could meet. I think she will be a strong addition to our locker room."

Helping to distribute sets to Bruce, Ramirez, Erdi, et al, will be incoming setter Halle Hogan. The 5-foot, 9-inch setter from Woods Cross, Utah, was the first commit of Coach Geoffrey's 2021 class; a player he was thankful to sign relatively early in the process.

"Halle was the rare recruit that found us. She reached out, introduced herself to me via email and then after a few phone calls she came to one of our summer camps," Geoffrey said. "It was pretty clear she'd been honing her craft for a long time and was ready to compete at our level."

Hogan graduated from Woods Cross High School where she was coached by her mom, Nicole, on the way to four-straight UHSAA 5A State Tournament appearances. Hogan also played for Club V.

"Halle's had success at every turn, playing against the best competition in a state known for its strong volleyball," Geoffrey said. "She's another freshman who should be able to hit the ground running."

It might be more accurate to say that Colorado native Makenna Reinert will leave the ground, jumping. The 5-foot, 10-inch pin hitter adds more elite athleticism to an already formidable stable of offensive weapons. The Mountain Range High School (Brighton) graduate plays well above the net and will be a terminal threat on either pin. 

"What's not to love about what Makenna brings?" Coach Geoffrey asked. "In the simplest terms she jumps high, hits the ball hard and is willing to do what it takes to win."

Reinert is yet another athletic and versatile player who will have her share of stand-out moments during her career at EWC.

"During her recruit visit I asked her where she felt most comfortable, outside or right side. I truly wanted to know her preference, her thought-process on positioning and what role she thought she was best suited for," Geoffrey said. "Her genuine answer was that it didn't matter. She didn't really think of things that way. Wherever she played she was going to play her game and help her team win.

"Yeah, we'll take that attitude any day."

Character and commitment was a theme for this year's recruiting class, and Coach Geoffrey said those qualities were what initially stood out about Cambrea Vogel.

A 5-foot, 3-inch defensive specialist, Vogel hails from the heartland of Crawford, Nebraska. The Crawford High School graduate was a member of the Nebraska West All-Stars team as a senior and played as the team's libero.

"Libero isn't often a glamorous position, but that never seemed important to Cambrea," Geoffrey said. "During our early conversations and her recruit visit she showed a willingness to learn, to work and to sacrifice for what she wants," Geoffrey said. "It's hard to know what you want, to have a long-term vision, especially at that young age. But Cambrea showed that she was a go-getter and can make positive things happen.

"A libero needs to have that attitude regardless of circumstances and we're happy and thankful to add that mindset and her talent to our roster."

Rounding out EWC's incoming players is the Lancer's final international recruit, Nicoly Weiwanko of Lisbon, Portugal. The six-foot, one-inch middle/opposite adds more height, length and positional flexibility to a roster that will prove deeper than its 15 names.

"Nicoly played mostly middle back home but we think her size and length could also make her a real force on the right side, especially defensively," Geoffrey said. "Being able to contribute at multiple positions is going to give her the opportunity to carve out a nice role for herself."

Weiwanko will enter the season as the youngest member on the roster, making her a candidate for rapid and meaningful development over the span of her Lancer career.

Another Wyoming recruit puts the finishing touches on the 2021-22 roster, this time in the form of our team manager, Tara Maddock.

Maddock is a former setter and graduate of Shoshoni High School and will add valuable experience and input to the Lancer program.

"As a coach I feel very lucky to have Tara joining our team in the capacity of a manager," Geoffrey said. "As a setter she understands all aspects of the game and will be able to make a huge impact to our season. Her insight, attitude and work ethic are going to benefit us both tangibly and intangibly, and I can't wait to get to work with her."

The Lancers begin pre-season training on Aug. 2 and start regular season competition on Aug. 20 in Trinidad, Colorado.