Volleyball ranked ninth in NJCAA preseason poll

Amanda Booren - 8/28/2009 The 2009 San Jacinto College volleyball team will open the season this weekend ranked ninth in the nation. Photo credit: Rob Vanya, San Jacinto College marketing department.

PASADENA, Texas – The San Jacinto College (SJC) volleyball team will open the 2009 season Aug. 28 ranked ninth in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) pre-season poll. With four returning players from last season’s team that finished fifth at the national tournament, SJC head coach Sharon Nelson is once again relying on a talented young squad to take San Jac back to the national tournament.

“Being ranked in the preseason NJCAA top 10 is a pleasant surprise,” said Nelson, who is beginning her eighth season at the helm of the San Jac program. “We lost four starters from last year, including three NJCAA top15 kills leaders, two of which were All-Americans, but we recruited well in the off season, and return four players. Being ranked ninth is a testament to the progress we have made to be recognized by the national committee, and we are thankful for that honor.”

This is the second time under Nelson’s tutelage that San Jac has been ranked in the preseason top 10. The other was in 2004 when San Jac was seventh in the preseason poll.

Returning from last year’s 33-3 squad are sophomore starters Abbey (Parker) Barnett and Brooke Spossey. Barnett, a setter from Dobie High School, led the nation in assists last season, was a Region XIV all-conference selection, and was the conference co-setter of the year. Spossey, SJC’s dynamic libero, averaged 4.19 digs per game. Also returning to the court for San Jac are middle blockers Moana Masaniai (Waipahu, Hawaii) and Brittney Wood (Kingwood).

In addition to the four returning players, San Jac welcomes 10 newcomers. Included in that group are three NCAA transfers in middle blocker Jyoti Ruffin (Auburn University), right side Christie Dorch (University of New Hampshire), and outside hitter Holly Moreno (St. Mary’s University).

SJC opens the 2009 season this coming weekend at the Texas Tornado tournament in Houston. San Jac will host Temple College in the home opener Tuesday, Sept. 1, in Anders Gymnasium on the Central campus located at 8060 Spencer Highway in Pasadena. The Region XIV tournament will be played November 6 and 7, and the NJCAA national tournament will return to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and the Mid-America Center, November 18– 23.

For more information about San Jacinto volleyball, please visit www.sanjacsports.com.

San Jacinto College serves more than 24,500 students in more than 140 degrees and certificates in university transfer and technical programs. The College also serves the community through workforce training. Students come with various goals and aspirations and we are committed to their success. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College.