Long Beach Women's Volleyball Burst into Top-25 Rankings

LBCC women's volleyball earns a 12th-place ranking in the first CCCWVCA ranking of the season. (Photo by John Fajardo)
LBCC women's volleyball earns a 12th-place ranking in the first CCCWVCA ranking of the season. (Photo by John Fajardo)
September 13, 2016

It was recently announced by the California Community College Women's Volleyball Coaches Association (CCCWVCA) rankings that the Long Beach City College Vikings are stamped 12th in the nation in the first ranking of the 2016 season. 

The Vikings have jumped out to an impressive start this season by earning an overall record of 4-2 which includes a 2-0 mark in the Long Beach City College Tournament as well as earning two wins in the Cerritos Invitational. Furthermore, the two losses on the season were pushed to the limit and taken to five sets which proves the Vikings are a tough team to defeat. Each victory has come in a straight-set sweep.

First year Head Coach Misty May-Treanor has built the program from the ground up by utilizing a strong set of talent and grit to win matches. 

"We are on a great path to achieving our goals," expressed May-Treanor. "With the kids working so hard and a new coaching staff being implemented, we are at a great starting point." 

Sophomore outside Sarah Miller (Long Beach, CA) has taken charge of the Long Beach attack by racking up a team-high 104 kills on the season to earn a kill percentage of .418. In 208 total attempts, she has only made 17 errors. In six games thus far, the sophomore hitter has reached double-digit kill marks with a season-high of 25 coming in a 3-0 win over San Diego Mesa. 

Sophomore outside Jessica Kaeka (Long Beach, CA) follows with 54 kills on the season to go along with 46 digs. Freshman middle Valeria Payan (Pacoima, CA) has been dominating the middle with 24 total blocks with 14 coming via solo stops. Additionally, she has earned 36 kills on the season.

Freshman setter Mary McBride (Paradise Valley, AZ) has been serving up sets on a silver platter for her teammates by recording 263 thus far, totaling an average of 11.95 assists-per-set. In six matches, McBride has dished out 33 or more assists with a season-high of 56 coming in a five-set thriller against Cypress. 

The Vikings look to remain atop the competition by facing off against Imperial Valley on Friday, September 16 at home at 5 p.m.