Player of the Week

Each week of the spring and fall seasons, one player who was originally reported as a recruit by AVSR Global is named Player of the Week for an exceptional performance.

Sept. 30, 2024: Nora Mărginean

Western Nebraska Comm. College.

NJCAA Division I.

Region 9 (Colo., Neb., Wyo.).

Reported by AVSR Global in 2024.

Freshman. 5'10" Setter.

Home: Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

See Mărginean’s bio at WNCC’s site.

Last Week:

• Mărginean led Western Nebraska to three more wins in its turnaround season. The Cougars have surged this fall after a subpar 2023.
• WNCC beat Trinidad, Casper and Otero. The Cougars are 17-6 and have already won more matches this year than in all of last season.
• Mărginean ranks second in the nation in assists with 730. She’s also a second-ball attack force, scoring 50 kills at .266 efficiency.
• First-year WNCC head coach Fatima Balza won the NJCAA national championship as a middle blocker with the Cougars in 2007.
• Balza went on to win back-to-back NCAA titles at Penn State as a starting middle blocker in 2009 and 2010.
• In Romania, Mărginean was named Best Setter of the 2023 Junior National Championship with herLPS Cluj-Napoca team.
• At the women’s level Mărginean’s team won Romania’s A2 league title.
• Nora’s mother was an elite outside hitter and libero. She now directs a youth volleyball club in Cluj-Napoca.

Excerpt from 2024 AVSR Global report:

“Ready to run a 5-1 offense as a freshman. … Trains daily and competes for the top team in Romania’s A2 women’s league. … Was named Best Setter of 2023 Junior National Championship. … Maternal grandfather was a world-class gymnast. … Open to two-year colleges.”