TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (August 14, 2023) – Everything about the 2022 season was sublime for the Salt Lake Community College volleyball team.

SLCC qualified for the NJCAA tournament, captured the Scenic West and Region 18 crowns, and ended up ranked at No. 3 in the final NJCAA polls. For all the success though, SLCC fell short of a goal it sets a yearly focus on – the NJCAA title. 

Moving ahead to 2023, the goals for the program remain high, according to SLCC coach Shay Goulding Meurer.

"I know we plan to excel in our conference and to have a presence nationally," she said. "Before goals though, we are just making sure we are taking care of who we want to be and how we want to show up daily. If we do these things – the results we want will happen."

The Bruins have always had a competitive squad, but being competitive and loving competition are two entirely different things. Fortunately for SLCC, this year's program is exhibiting both tendencies.

"The skill and ability of this group is really impressive," he said. "We just had an intersquad scrimmage today and I was very happy with the level of play. I have no doubt we will do well this year."

If anything, Goulding Meurer noted the struggles of having a team full of highly competitive, highly successful players.

"We have depth in every position, and everyone deserves to play," she said. "This will be a team that succeeds and excels because each of our 15 players passionately compete against each other in practice every day. We will keep getting better because of it."

SLCC will open its 2023 season this weekend at home, hosting the 'UFirst Intermountain Invite'. Salt Lake will play matches against Daytona State and Missouri State-West Plains on Friday, then will respond with scheduled contests against Trinity Valley and Florida Southwestern on Saturday. 

Preparing for this weekend's openers inside the Lifetime Activities Center, Goulding Meurer noted her team's energy will be one of its primary assets.

"Our players have really bought into the power of process, and it is showing up in their overall confidence," she said. "This group loves to compete, and they are pushing each other every day. I also see our returners stepping up their role as leaders and it is fun to see."