Here are key Stanislaus District returners to watch out for this volleyball season
Volleyball season is right around the corner in the Sac-Joaquin Section with most teams starting their season Friday, Aug. 19. A number of teams are coming off successful seasons as Escalon, Ripon Christian and Big Valley Christian won Sac-Joaquin Section titles in Divisions IV, V and VI, respectively. In the Northern California Regional Championships, Ripon Christian advanced to the second round while Big Valley finished as the Division VI runner up.
Last year’s Player of the Year, Amanda Murphy, led a talented senior class that included Pepperdine’s newest middle blocker, Gregori’s Kennadie Patterson and University of the Pacific freshman Emily van Groningen, a Ripon Christian graduate. Returners will have bigger roles this year and a number of them are ready to embrace the challenge of leading their teams and defending league and section titles. Here are some of the area’s top players returning from last season.
All accolades mentioned are according to MaxPreps’ stats and rankings from the 2021 season.
Emily Vickers, Escalon, Sr.
The Cougars’ top returner, Vickers finished her junior season ranked in the top 15 in the Sac-Joaquin Section in kills (14th) and aces (11th) and as the Trans-Valley League Most Outstanding Player. Her 319 kills ranked second on the team, her 95 aces was a team high and she finished second with 281 digs. With the graduation of last year’s Player of the Year Amanda Murphy, there will be plenty of attacking opportunities in her senior season as the Cougars look to win their third straight section title.
Alicia Souza, Hilmar, Jr.
Souza will have a much bigger role in her junior season. The 6-foot right side and middle hitter tallied 131 kills in 61 sets last year. She set her varsity career high of 13 kills in a 3-0 win against Stone Ridge Christian.
Kylie Griffin, Downey, Sr.
Returning for her senior season, Griffin was the Knights’ leader in kills last season with 327, 13th in the section. The 6-foot-3 do-it-all player was second on the team in aces (86) and was one of the best in the section at the net, finishing the year with 78 blocks (12th).
Trinity Beers, Big Valley Christian, Sr.
Beers did some of everything for the Division VI section champions in her junior season. The 5-foot-11 outside hitter finished last season among the top 10 in the section in three categories. Beers notched 371 kills (9th), 98 aces (8th) and 458 digs (5th).
Ivy Perez, Downey, Sr.
Perez was one of the best at setting her teammates up in not only the section, but the state. Her 795 assists ranked fifth in the section and 22nd in California. She should build on her outstanding junior season as the Knights have key returners at middle blocker and outside hitter for her to work with.
Rylie Lattig, Escalon, Sr.
Every successful team needs a successful setter and that’s what Lattig is for the Cougars. She set the table for Escalon, which had two players finish in the top 15 in kills. During her junior year, she cracked the top 10 in assists in the section, collecting 673 for the Division IV section champions.
Ava Van Groningen, Ripon Christian, Sr.
Van Groningen was one of the most consistent players on a Ripon Christian team that won a 2021 section title and advanced to the second round of the California Northern California Regional playoffs. Van Groningen was one of the top servers in the section, finishing 13th in aces with 93. She also finished in the top five for the Knights in sets played, kills, digs and total blocks in her junior season.
Fallon Freeman, Beyer, Jr.
Freeman led a talented Beyer squad to the playoffs last season, running the Patriots’ offense to perfection. She earned Western Athletic Conference MVP honors in her first varsity season as a sophomore setter and right side.
Reagan Wilkerson, Ripon, Jr.
Wilkerson was always available for Ripon. During her sophomore year, she played in 94 sets, third most on the team. The setter finished her first varsity season with a team high in assists and aces, tallying 448 and 88, respectively.
Reese Carmona, Pitman, Sr.
If a ball got past the Pride blocks, there was a good chance Carmona was there to pick it up. The rising senior libero was always in the right spot for Pitman, finishing last season in the top 10 in the section with 395 digs. Carmona helped turn defense to offense for the 2021 CCAL champion.
This story was originally published August 13, 2022 at 7:15 AM.
