PUC Volleyball Players Earn Cal Pac Honors, Signaling Bright Future for Program
Images courtesy of Abigail Suttan
By Daniel Morales
While the Pacific Union College women's volleyball team fell short of a postseason berth this year, several standout performances from its young roster earned recognition from the California Pacific Conference, demonstrating a foundation of growth and promise for the program's future.
Freshman libero Sydney Munoz was named the Cal Pac Freshman of the Year after a strong debut season. The Sparks, Nevada native finished third in the conference in digs per set (3.42) and led the Pioneers with 106 total digs, emerging as a steady defensive anchor for PUC.
"Being recognized by the conference as a freshman speaks to Sydney's work ethic and composure," said head coach Andrew Randolph. "She's already shown leadership beyond her years, and we're excited to see her continue developing."
Junior and team captain Malia DeCelle, an outside hitter and middle from Vacaville, earned a spot on the All-Cal Pac Team. DeCelle provided consistent two-way play throughout the season, averaging 1.63 kills per set and 2.85 digs per set, while posting a .064 hitting percentage. Her experience and versatility helped guide a youthful PUC lineup through the challenges of conference play.
Additionally, both Arianna Mathern and Munoz received Honorable Mention recognition, rounding out a strong showing of individual accolades for the Pioneers.
Despite finishing outside the playoff picture, the honors highlight a program on the rise. With a roster featuring several underclassmen gaining key experience, the Pioneers are optimistic about their trajectory heading into next year.
"We knew there were going to be a lot of challenges to our season. This team knows how to work hard, and this year was an indication of the successful future we have at hand." Expressed Randolph. "We know what next season needs to look like in order to show that growth. We'll continue to build a better team capable of rising to those new challenges.