Volleyball Season Wrap-up

This year's team finished 9-3 in league, placing Hartnell second in the Coast Conference North.  The first round of playoffs had the team facing De Anza College on Tuesday (11/20).  The ladies played confident and swept them 25-24,25-16,25-23. Leaders for this match were Freshmen Middle blocker Aixa Crespo with 3 blocks and 6 kills.  Sophomore Nhean Marquez lead with 18 digs.  

 

After defeating De Anza the team faced Fresno City College on Saturday (11/24).  Fresno came ready to fight hard because the winner of this match would make the state tournament.  The team started off with some nerves and could not overturn the strong momentum that Fresno had established.  The team lost 25-16,25-23, 25-22.  Leaders for this match were Sophomore Setter Megan Gonzalez with 15 digs, 7 kills, and 8 assists.  Sophomore Outside Hitter Sam Shaffer tallied 10 kills, 3 aces, and 9 digs.  

 

End of the season awards: 

Aixa Crespo (Freshmen): Aixa came to Hartnell from St. Scholastica Academy in Louisiana. She played middle blocker for the team this year and totaled 191 kills and 61 blocks.  She hit an extremely high hitting percentage this year with .424.  Aixa was selected to the Coast Conference North second team all conference. 

 

Nhean Marquez (Sophomore): Nhean came to Hartnell from Everett Alverez High School.  She started and lead the team in the back court as a Libero.  In September she was chosen as the CCCWVCA player of the week for her top level performance.  Nhean contributed 44 service aces, 67 setting assists and lead the team with 374 digs. She accumulated so many digs this season that the next closest player with the closest amount of digs to Nhean is still a hundred and fifty digs behind her. Nhean was selected to the Coast Conference North second team all conference. 

 

Jahvanah Marinelli (Freshmen): Jovi came to Hartnell from Salinas High School.  She played as a back row setter for the team and served up 44 aces, 204 digs, and lead the team with 522 setting assists. Jovi was selected to the Coast Conference North first team all conference.

 

Megan Gonzalez (Sophomore): Megan came to Hartnell from Carmel High School.  She played two rolls for the team this year as a setter and hitter.  She totaled 420 setting assists, 179 digs, 225 kills, and lead the team in service aces with 45.  She was a first team all conference selection in 2017, and was again selected to the Coast Conference North first team all league team.  

 

Sam Shaffer (Sophomore): Sam came to Hartnell from Salinas High School.  Sam has played a major role in the panther offense for the last two years.  This year she lead the team in kills with 371, 254 digs, 36 aces, and 23 blocks. In 2017 she was selected to the first team all conference and this year she was also selected to the Coast Conference North first team all conference.  Sam was also selected to the All-Northern California Region Team (top 12 players in Northern California), and she was also selected to the All-State Team (top 12 players in California).  The most impressive honor Sam received was Second Team All-American.  Hartnell College Women's Volleyball program has never had an All-American. Sam will be recognized at the state tournament banquet at Solano College on Thursday (11/29).  

 

Overall the this years team finished 26-6 and had its most successful season in over two decades.  The final state rankings have not come out yet but we should be in the top ten teams in the state and top 6 in Northern California.  Head Coach Jamie Pedroza was selected as the Coast Conference North, Coach of the Year.