UKIAH — It has been a historic season of success for the Mendocino College women’s volleyball team under the direction of head coach Katherine Escobedo.
The Eagles finished 10-2 in the Bay Valley Conference this season, their only two losses coming to undefeated BVC champion Solano, and are 15-5 overall. They’re headed to the playoffs, which open Saturday, and they’ll learn Thursday where they’ve been seeded in the postseason field.
Mendocino College’s roster includes three former Lake County high school stars in Kelseyville’s Payton Conrad, Upper Lake’s Alana Sanchez and Clear Lake’s Zoey Pepper. Other team members are Jacie Clavelle of Fort Bragg, Zoey White, Victoria Ruiz and Julia Maldonado of Ukiah, and Kaylee Wells and Haylee Langdeau of Crow Creek High School of Stephan, South Dakota.
In her fourth season as the Eagles’ head coach, Escobedo was asked why her 2022 team has achieved such great success compared to her past clubs.
“That’s a great question and a tough one to answer, but when it comes down to it I believe the competitiveness and hunger to win with this group is at an all-time high for us and the chemistry on the court this year is unique and special,” Escobedo said. “They work hard and want to win no matter who we are facing. It’s taken a few years to get here and we have had student-athletes buy into what we are building and each year we keep getting better.”
Four members of the squad were recently honored on the All-Bay Valley Conference team for the 2022 season.
Conard, the team’s sophomore libero, was named to the All-BVC first team for a second year in a row after leading the conference in digs per set (7.14) and total digs (500). Conrad is also ranked second in the state for digs per set and fourth in the state for total digs.
“Payton is the heart and soul of our defense,” Escobedo said.
White, a freshman outside hitter, also was named to the All-BVC first team after leading the conference in aces per set (.74) and ranking third in digs per set (4.11), eighth in total digs (271), ninth in kills per set and 10th in overall kills. Additionally, White ranks seventh in the state in aces per set.
“Zoey is our powerhouse and can do it all,” Escobedo said.
Second-team All-BVC honors went to freshman setter Ruiz, who was third in the conference in assists per set (7.61), fourth in digs per set (4.06) and ninth in service aces per set (.54).
“Vicki is our leader and is the key to our offense,” Escobedo said.
Earning an All-BVC honorable mention was freshman middle hitter Wells, who ranked seventh in the conference in blocks per set (.55) and seventh in kills per set (2.57).
“Kaylee is a momentum changer for us on the court,” Escobedo said.
