TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (September 23, 2019) - The No. 9 Salt Lake Community College volleyball team had a nice reboot last weekend in Wyoming, going 4-0 and downing nationally-ranked Northeastern Junior College in the process.

Now comes a loaded week for the Bruins, with quality competition and plenty of matches on the docket for one of the nation's elite junior college programs. SLCC returns home for its first match inside the Lifetime Activities Center since Sept. 4 with a final non-conference matchup against Western Wyoming Community College on Tuesday evening, in the program's annual 'Alumni Night'. Salt Lake will open Scenic West Athletic Conference action on Thursday in the LAC, hosting No. 15 USU Eastern. The Bruins will also host Colorado Northwestern Community College on Saturday.

While the Bruins have a packed schedule ahead, the success of the past weekend helped to boost sails that might have fallen slightly in the wake of a 1-3 weekend in Las Vegas previously. After four strong wins, SLCC coach Sue Dulaney noted her team's performance in Wyoming helped to rebuild any lost momentum in advance of Scenic West action.

"This past weekend wrapped up our preseason schedule and this team has shown that they can battle," she said. "Of our 21 matches, half of them have been against teams that won their NJCAA regions last year. Our preseason has tested us and we are ready to get into conference play."

While SLCC and Snow College have had traditionally-strong Utah-based programs in the NJCAA, USU Eastern's program has rocketed forward into the national polls. The Eagles are ranked at No. 15 and own a 19-5 record entering league play this weekend. Colorado Northwestern has also shown signs of improvement as the Spartans have already won 3 matches this season, a year after winning only 4 matches in the entire season. 

With three nationally-ranked teams currently sitting in the Scenic West Athletic Conference, Dulaney said her program is excited for the opportunities that lie ahead.

"We are really excited to have three matches at home this week," she said. "We have a few key players but it is our depth that has shown through as numerous players stepped up off the bench. We have not had one consistent lineup and our players have been flexible; whatever we have asked them to do they do it and do it well."

Salt Lake's Tuesday match against Western Wyoming is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. start. Thursday's Scenic West opener against No. 15 USU Eastern will start at 7:00 p.m., with Saturday's match against Colorado Northwestern scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start.