PC notebook: "Fab 5" in Sophomore Showcase
While the Porterville College volleyball season has officially ended, there are a few more dates the team is looking forward to.
Tonight, the Pirates will participate in the Annual Children’s Christmas Parade in downtown Porterville. All of the team members are scheduled to appear, as part of the City of Porterville Parks and Leisure Services float entry.
Then Saturday, all five of the PC sophomores – Amanda Monge, Allison Clem, Danielle Carrillo, Kacey Markarian and Laura Jaggers – have been selected to participate in the California Community College Women’s Volleyball Sophomore Showcase at Fullerton College.
The morning event is a chance for the Pirates to play with other top sophomores in the state in front of college recruiters from across the country. The showcase will include a practice session and a mini-tournament. To be invited, players qualified by being named to their respective all-conference teams.
“This is a great opportunity for all of our sophomores to be evaluated by four-year university coaches,” said coach Dale Henderson. “Amanda and Allison are a little further along in the recruiting process, but the others have great opportunities as well. There are a few hundred four-year school in the country. Our goal is to find a new home, on scholarship, for all five Pirates. Having a successful season has certainly helped. I have never received so many emails and phone call from college coaches interested in our players and our program.”
Henderson will attend the showcase, and stay at Fullerton College to watch the State Final Four. Three of the finalists – Fresno, Santa Rosa, and L.A. Pierce – were PC opponents. “We can say we lost to the best,” he said. “Our goal is to be there next season.”
Next Thursday, on Dec. 6, the college will host a volleyball awards dinner at 6:30 p.m. Henderson said his staff will announced award-winners in six different categories, including team MVP, most improved, and most inspirational. Limited tickets for the public are available for $10. For ticket information, call 791-2460.
The Pirates finished 20-7 after a 3-1 loss to Santa Rosa last Saturday in a regional second round match.
BASKETBALL UPDATE
The PC women’s team (2-3) will open play at the College of the Sequoias Tournament in Visalia today. The Pirates will face No. 1 Mt. San Antonio (6-0) at noon in the main gym.
“This is a great chance for us to see how we measure up against the best,” said coach Dave Kavern. “We’ve been off for a couple of weeks, so it’s going to be extra tough. I like our team attitude, and we have balanced scoring from several players.”
On the men’s side, the Pirates (0-6) will travel to Sacramento for the Cosumnes River College Tournament starting today also. The Pirates, still battling injuries to key players, hope to find the win column against Modesto (2-1) at 4 p.m.
“We have faced some very tough competition,” said coach T.J. Jennings. “As we look to keep improving, the morale is still good and we have a confident team that believes in what we can accomplish down the road. These are early freshman growing pains that a young team experiences.”
