October 1, 2010
Volleyball Team and Players Ranked in State
The Allan Hancock College volleyball team is on their way to a great 2010 season. The Bulldogs were recently listed as one of the top 47 teams in the state in the California Community College Women’s Volleyball Coaches Association poll.
Early into the 2010 season, the Bulldogs have already matched the number of wins they had last season. The team is 6-6 and 1-2 in conference play. The 2009 squad ended their season with a 6-13 record.
“The volleyball program is growing and improving, and I’m glad to see our athletes succeeding and being recognized on a state level,” said head coach Julio Molina.
The Bulldogs have played a tough schedule so far, going up against six teams that are currently ranked in the top 15 in the state including Los Angeles Pierce and El Camino College, ranked second and fifth in the poll respectively.
“There are no easy nights for us. We have a very competitive schedule and we’ve been a few points away from upsetting some of the top teams in the state,” Molina said.
Against these tougher teams, the Bulldogs have continued to excel. Hancock currently has three players ranked in the top ten in the state in digs per game and one player in the top 25 in assists.
Mallory Pina (Santa Maria, CA) is ranked fifth in the state with 129 digs, an average of 6.14 per game. Tiffany Isel (Santa Maria, Ca), is ranked seventh with 122 digs, and Kendall Stahl (Nipomo, CA) follows her in eighth with 114. Sophomore setter Sadie DeQuattro (Paso Robles, CA), from Paso Robles High School, is ranked 23rd in the state in assists.
Molina credits the team’s improvement to off-season conditioning led by assistant coach KC Carnine and the addition of assistant coach Sandra Darway, who played college volleyball for the University of Texas Pan-American. Team unity, he said, is also at an all-time high.
“We play like a team and act like a family,” said DeQuattro.
The Bulldogs look to improve their record on the road against Santa Monica on Friday, Oct. 1. The team’s next home game is Friday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m., against Oxnard College. For a full schedule and more information go to athletics.hancockcollege.edu.