SANBORN — Joe Daigler isn’t certain his Niagara County Community College volleyball team will return to nationals this fall, but he’s no less confident than he was a year ago.

Prior to his first season as head coach, Daigler boldly guaranteed that NCCC would win the regional championship. Last year’s squad, led by Starpoint graduates Kathie Kreppenneck and Ashley Berry and twins Taylor and Margo Pagano, exceeded Daigler’s expectations by finishing fourth at nationals.

This year, the newly-named Thunder Wolves have 12 new faces and just one returning player, who won’t start. The rest of the region is stronger, which is why Daigler is exercising restraint in his postseason predictions.

“But I believe that with the players I recruited we have the potential to be better than last year’s team,” Daigler said. 

Chemistry, Daigler said, will be the key.

“If they can come together and trust each other on the court and play like a team that has been playing together for a while we can go as far as we did last year,” Daigler said. 

The Thunder Wolves will benefit from the fact that three of the freshmen — Brittnee Johnathan, Jessica Cruz and Sarah Rosenberg — were teammates at Akron, and Morgan Waples (Lockport) played with Johnathan and Cruz on the Niagara Frontier Club team.

Jessica Crooks (Niagara-Wheatfield) and Jessica Oyer (Grand Island) have been voted team captains.

Crooks, who initially committed to Genesee CC, is as talented as the top sophomore middle hitters in the region, Daigler said.

Oyer will be one of the Thunder Wolves’ featured outside hitters.

NCCC starts the season at 6 p.m. today with a home match against Finger Lakes CC. The regional championship tournament begins Oct. 30.

SEASON PRIMER

NCCC volleyball

• LAST YEAR: 29-9, won regional championship, finished fourth at Division III national tournament

• COACH: Joe Daigler, second year

• KEY PLAYERS: MH Jessica Crooks (Niagara-Wheatfield), OH Jessica Oyer (Grand Island)

Home Schedule

• TODAY: Finger Lakes, 6 p.m.

• WEDNESDAY: Cayuga, 6 p.m.

• SEPT. 16: Mercyhurst NE, 6 p.m.

• SEPT. 21: Alfred State, 6 p.m.

• OCT. 12: ECC, 6 p.m.

• OCT. 19: Genesee, 6 p.m.