For the first time in American River College’s history, the women’s volleyball team won the State Championship! It was an awesome display of offense and defense, mental toughness and fortitude, and especially teamwork. The student-athletes and their coaches worked hard and overcame some unforeseen obstacles during the playoffs to show just how tough they are. They played their first “home” playoff match at Monterrey Peninsula College because our campus was closed due to poor air quality. They went there and beat Foothill College 3-0. Then right after Thanksgiving, they played Sierra College at Sierra. They hadn’t beaten that team in a few years. Down 2 sets to none, the Beavers stormed back and won 3 sets in a row and upset Sierra to earn a berth at the State Championship. This past Friday, down a set, the team stormed back and won 3 sets in a row beating El Camino College in 4 sets. They did it again, on Saturday. Down a set to the #1 rated team and last year’s champion, Irvine Valley College, the women fought back and won 3 straight sets. Today, the Beavers defeated a tough opponent in Fresno City College. We won the first set, before going down 1 -2 sets. Undeterred, the team again showed their toughness. They were 2 points away from losing the championship in the fourth set and then they put on a display. They came back and won both the fourth and the fifth set and the State Championship with a score of 26-24 and 15-8 (http://cccaasports.org/ sports/wvball/2018-19/ releases/20181202vmq7i7). If you get a chance please congratulate the student athletes, their coaches and support staff. This is a huge accomplishment for them and our college.

On behalf of the Women’s Volleyball team and the Athletic Department, I would like thank you for the support and guidance that you have provided these students. Your help has been tremendous. We should all be very proud of their accomplishment. Please join us in January when we raise the banner! (date TBD).

Coaches:

Head Coach - Carson Lowden

Assistant Coaches- Rheann Fall, Micha Dawson, Justin Thompson

Volleyball Team Members:

Hannah Cooper

Ava Siemering

Alyssa Moates

Madeline Adams _- All Tournament Team

Botagoz Joslin

Allison Linder

Emily Grana

Kendall Welpott - All Tournament Team

Lily Johnson

Andreia Keane

Danica Minard

Savanah Smith - Tournament Most Valuable Player

Abigail Herrington

Daniella Smith

Kaytlin Apodaca

Faith Baker

Rachel Harvell

Juliette Oill