38th Annual Sheila Worley Invitational presented by the Eastern Plains Sports Network
Posted: Aug 24, 2021

38th Annual Sheila Worley Invitational presented by the Eastern Plains Sports Network

For nearly 40 years, Northeastern Volleyball has hosted an annual tournament in early September. Many years, some of the top teams in NJCAA Volleyball participate making it a high-caliber field of eventual national qualifiers. 2021 marks the 38th edition of a tournament founded by NJCAA Hall of Famer Sheila Worley, then the volleyball coach at Northeastern, in 1983.

The Eastern Plains Sports Network, radio home for Northeastern Athletics on 94.5 The Ranch and www.945theranch.com, is proud to be the presenting sponsor of this year's tournament. In support of the history of this tournament, the Eastern Plains Sports Network and Northeastern Athletics have named the tournament after its founder, Sheila Worley. Her commitment and dedication to all sports at Northeastern Junior College will forever be memorialized by the naming of this tournament in her honor.

"I'm so pleased that we've partnered with the Eastern Plains Sports Network to name the tournament after Sheila," said Northeastern Athletic Director Marci Henry. "Her dedication and impact on women's sports at Northeastern is unmatched. She paved the way for so many women to attend Northeastern, play the sports they love, all while earning a great education. Our gratitude is immense."

September 10-11, 2021 will see a loaded field of participants in the Sheila Worley Invitational presented by the Eastern Plains Sports Network. Defending national champions Iowa Western will be joined in the field by Utah State University - Eastern, Western Nebraska, and Northeastern, all of whom qualified for the NJCAA National Tournament in April 2021. USU-Eastern was ranked 4th in the preseason NJCAA poll, after finishing 7th at last year's NJCAA Tourmament. Northeastern, who finished 10th last year, was ranked 11th in the same preseason poll, while Western Nebraska, who went 1-2 at the NJCAA Tournament last year, was ranked 8th.

Here's a look at the tournament schedule:

  • Friday, September 10
    • 3:00pm - Iowa Western vs. Western Nebraska
    • 5:30pm - Northeastern vs. USU-Eastern
  • Saturday, September 11
    • 10:00am - Iowa Western vs. USU-Eastern
    • 1:30pm - USU-Eastern vs. Western Nebraska
    • 4:00pm - Iowa Western vs. Northeastern

All of the matches will be broadcast with live video on www.gonjc.com via the NJC Athletics YouTube page. Eastern Plains Sports Network Director and Voice of Northeastern Athletics Ben Blecha will also provide play-by-play of the matches Northeastern is playing in with radio broadcast on 94.5 The Ranch & www.945theranch.com. We will also be honoring Sheila Worley and celebrating the 55th year of competitive women's sports at Northeastern Junior College with a ceremony before the Northeastern vs. Iowa Western match on Saturday, September 11.

The Eastern Plains Sports Network, Northeastern Athletics, and Sheila Worley are excited to welcome players, coaches and fans to Sterling, Colorado on September 10 and 11, 2021 for the 38th Annual Sheila Worley Invitational presented by the Eastern Plains Sports Network! We look forward to the exciting action on the court this year.