Western Nebraska Community College's Alex Gonzalez‑Orozco has worn blue and gold for most of her volleyball career, from her days at Gering High School to two seasons with the Cougars. On Wednesday afternoon, the sophomore libero officially traded those colors for green and gold as she signed to continue her career at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

              Gonzalez‑Orozco becomes the fourth Cougar since 2008 to join the Seawolves, following Stacie Meisner (2006–07), Jodi Huddleston (2010–11), and Keala Kaio‑Perez (2014–15), continuing a long‑standing connection between the two programs.

              For Gonzalez‑Orozco, the decision came down to how she felt the moment she stepped on campus.               

              "I really, really liked my visit there," she said. "It felt like everyone truly cared about you as a person — not just as an athlete, but as a student too. All of the staff was really caring, and I could tell that they really cared about their students. And I really loved the campus and the gym. The gym was beautiful."       

              The move will take her farther from home than she has ever been, but she said the opportunity outweighs the distance.

              "I'm not ready to be so far away from my family," she admitted with a smile. "But I think I'm going to like it a lot."

              The Seawolves made the choice easy. Compared to her other visit, she said Alaska Anchorage stood out immediately.

              "It was a really easy decision," she said. "They have a really good volleyball program. I think their record last year was like 24–6. They made it to the national tournament. They lost in the first round, but they still made it, so that's really cool."

              Anchorage itself also left an impression.

              "I thought it was a really cute town," she said. "I feel like it would be fun to go out with my team and find new spots to hang out at. It felt like one of those towns where we're never going to be bored. We can go on a hike, or we can find a new restaurant. I think that's really cool."

              Gonzalez‑Orozco arrives at Alaska Anchorage after two strong seasons anchoring WNCC's back row. As a freshman, she tallied 251 digs and nine aces while appearing in 38 matches. She elevated her game even further as a sophomore, finishing with 586 digs — an impressive 4.51 per set — along with 90 assists and 28 service aces. In two seasons, she totaled 837 digs, 100 assists, and 37 aces for the Cougars.

              She credits her time at WNCC for preparing her for the next step.

              "I think it's really prepared me and let me work on my skills a lot," she said. "I don't think that without these two years I would be the player that I am."

              The decision to keep playing volleyball was also a meaningful one. For a time, she wasn't sure she would continue after junior college.

              "It's really special," she said. "At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to continue playing. I was really focused on my career in radiology for a little bit. But then I decided I'm not ready to stop playing, so it was a big decision for me."

              She plans to major in health sciences at Alaska Anchorage, with the goal of eventually entering the school's radiology program.

              Even the color change — from lifelong blue and gold to green and yellow — ended up being easier than expected.

              "I didn't know if I'd like their colors when I first went on my visit," she said. "But when I put on the jersey, I was like, okay, yeah, I can do this."

              As she prepares to leave WNCC, Gonzalez‑Orozco said the hardest part will be saying goodbye to the teammates who became family.

              "I don't think I have a specific memory," she said. "Just getting to know these girls and laughing and having a good time. It's really cool to see how girls from all over the world have gotten so close."

              She also shared an emotional thank‑you to those who helped her reach this moment.

              "Just thank you, coach," she said. "I don't think this would have been possible without you. I wouldn't even know where to start. Thank you, everybody, for all the support. I'm very proud."

              WNCC head coach Fatima Balza said Gonzalez‑Orozco leaves behind a legacy of consistency, character, and work ethic.

              "You are the perfect example of what a student‑athlete is," Balza told her. "You were 100 percent focused all the time in sports and school, always a super great teammate. I could not be happier that you were here for two years. I am very, very proud of you."

              With a few weeks left on campus, Gonzalez‑Orozco said she's trying to enjoy every moment before beginning her next chapter.

              "It's going to be really hard to say goodbye," she said. "But I know they're all going to be supporting me."