Six named to all-conference volleyball team

Dorch named conference player of the year and NJCAA All-American

Amanda Booren - 12/14/2009 Sophomore Holly Moreno was named to the Region XIV All-Conference first-team.

PASADENA, Texas –Six volleyball players from San Jacinto College have been named to the All-Region XIV conference team, as voted by the league coaches. In addition, San Jac nabbed the player, freshman, offensive player and coach of the year.

Sophomores Christie Dorch (Friendswood / Friendswood HS) andHolly Moreno (Pearland / Pearland HS), along with freshmen Alyssa Dibbern (Bay City / Bay City HS) and Candace Soares (Mililani Hawaii / Mililani HS) earned a spot on the Region XIV first team, while sophomore Brittney Wood (Kingwood / Kingwood HS) and freshman Amanda Deem (Pearland / Pearland HS) were named to the second team.

In addition to being named to the Region XIV first team, Dorch earned National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American second team honors, conference offensive player and player of the year honors. Dibbern was named the league’s freshman of the year, and eighth-year head coach Sharon Nelson earned her fifth-straight Region XIV District M coach of the year honor.

“I am very proud to see our players honored by the conference,” said Nelson. “Their recognition is a testament to the hard work of everyone in our program and to the success of San Jacinto College volleyball. All of our players deservecredit for the many hours of dedication they have put in to continuing our success, and for their representation of the College on both the regional and national levels.”

For the season, Dorch, a transfer from the University of New Hampshire, led the team in kills per set. Her 3.15 average was also second in the league. The 6-1 right side hitter was one of the team’s top blockers with a 0.48 per set mark (7th in the conference) and was second on the team with 419 digs, for a 3.40 per set average.

“I am so happy for Christie for her All-American recognition,” added Nelson. “All-American status to any player in our program is a great honor. She is a talented player and is so deserving of All-American honors.”

Dibbern, a 6-2 middle blocker, was second on the squad in kills and blocks with marks of 2.83 and 0.91 per set, respectively. She led the team in service aces with 54 total, good for second in the league with a 0.43 mark.

Moreno transferred to San Jac in the off-season from St. Mary’s University. The 6-1 outside hitter from Pearland was fourth on the team in kills per set at 2.03, third in blocks at 0.63 and fourth in service aces with an average of 0.28 per set. Her .337 hitting percentage was sixth in the league.

Soares was third on the squad in kills per set at 2.30 (10th in the league), third in digs with a 2.89 per set mark, and second in total service aces with 45.

Wood was solid on defense for San Jac this season, leading the squad in blocks per set with a 1.053 mark (29th nationally). The 6-1 middle blocker from Kingwood finished sixth on the team in kills per set with a 1.487 average.

Deem led the team in digs with 436 total for a 3.52 per set mark. The Pearland High School graduate also served up 16 aces.

Nelson owns an overall record of 232-86 (.730) in eight years at San Jacinto College. San Jac made its fifth-straight trip to the NJCAA national tournament this season, finishing 10th in the nation. It was the fourth top-10 finish for Nelson in her tenure at San Jac.

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

San Jacinto College serves more than 27,000 students in over 140 degrees and certificates in university transfer and technical programs. The College also serves the community through workforce training. Students come to San Jacinto College with various goals and aspirations and we are committed to their success. San Jacinto College. Your Goals.Your College.

For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150 or visit www.sanjac.edu.

Region XIV all-conference first team
Name                                 School                                                          Position
Angela Sanders                    Wharton County Junior College                       RS
Kinsey Mims                        Galveston College                                          MB
Christie Dorch                    San Jacinto College                                       RS
JulisaOcasio                        Lee College                                                  S
Marie Nataniela                   Laredo Community College                              OH
Alyssa Dibbern                   San Jacinto College                                        MB
Stephanie Salas                   Lee College                                                   L
Beth Rodgers                      Wharton County Junior College                       MB
Kelly Hairell                         Galveston College                                          MB
Bianca Mares                       Laredo Community College                              MB
Kayla Dunk                          Wharton County Junior College                       MB
Tamara Kitic                        Lee College                                                  RS
Holly Moreno                     San Jacinto College                                       OH/MB
Candace Soares                  San Jacinto College                                        OH

Region XIV all-conference second team
Veronica Espino                Wharton County Junior College                       S
Brittani Hackfeld               Wharton county Junior College                       L
Madison Minks                  Wharton County Junior College                       OH
Audry Myers                     Galveston College                                          OH
MarandaAndersson            Galveston College                                           S
Jasmine Marta                   Lee College                                                  OH
Christina Jacinto                Lee College                                                  L
Tiara Robinson                   Lee College                                                  MB
LatriciaTaifane                   Laredo Community College                              MB
Clarissa Martines                Laredo Community College                              L
Amanda Deem                   San Jacinto College                                       DS
Brittany Wood                  San Jacinto College                                       MB
Christine Ruckman             Laredo Community College                              OH
JuriFranzen                       Laredo Community College                              L

Libero of the Year
Stephanie Salas                   Lee College

Setter of the Year
Julisa Ocasio                          Lee College

Freshman of the Year
Alyssa Dibbern                   San Jacinto College

Offensive Player of the Year
Christie Dorch                    San Jacinto College

Player of the Year
Christie Dorch                    San Jacinto College

District M Coach of the Year
Sharon Nelson                     San Jacinto College