2016 Season in Review - COD Women's Volleyball

The 2016 season was the fifth year for co-head coaches Marion Champion and Detlev Rothe as Desert ended the season with a record of 7-14 overall and 2-6 in Conference, finishing fourth. 

The coaching staff took great pride in the team's season statistics, achieving 5 of the 6 key metrics set forth at the start of the season last summer.  The team passed a collective 2.0+, served better than 92 percent with an ace to error at nearly 2-to -1, had 2 blocks per set. "These were benchmarks that we have not had a team reach to this degree in five years" said coach Rothe. "It was very rewarding to see the team take such pride in these achievements night after night, helping start a culture we hope to continue here."

On the court, team captain, sophomore libero Kaylie Edgar (Palm Springs H.S.), was named first team all-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference. She finished 1st in conference and 13th in the state with a 5.41 digs per set average, she finished 1st in Conference and 19th in state with 427 digs and finished 4th in Conference with 36 service aces. Edgar had a season high 41 digs at home versus Mt. San Jacinto on November 8th and 35 digs at Imperial Valley on November 16th.

Also named first team all-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference was sophomore setter Angelica Sayo (Palm Desert Xavier College Prep) who finished 2nd in Conference and 40th in the state in assists with 537. Sayo had seven matches where she grabbed 30 or more assists and had a season high 54 assists at Imperial Valley on November 16th.

The 2016 campaign for the team was a showcase year for the many sophomores that were the backbone of the program for two seasons.  The Roadrunners proved capable of competing with some of the top teams in the state as one of the new members of the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference in 2016.  An up and down non-Conference schedule lead into uncharted territory at the start of conference play. An epic battle with the narrowest of margins against long-time Desert rival Mt. San Jacinto for the last home match of the season went 15-13 in the fifth set for a heartbreaking loss.  Nonetheless, the quality of play and fierce competitiveness of both sides was a testament to the level of PCAC and CCCAA play in 2016.

Named to the second team all-Conference was sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Cazares (Indio Shadow Hills). Cazares finished 5th in Conference in service aces with 35, and 8th in Conference in kills with 165. She finished the season with 20 total blocks and 140 digs.

Also named to the second team all-Conference was sophomore outside hitter Savannah Sharp (Palm Desert H.S.). Sharp finished 2nd in Conference with 242 kills, averaging 3.72 kills per set. She finished the season with 22 total blocks, 19 service aces and 133 digs.

Sophomore middle blocker Hannah LaLiberte (La Quinta H.S.) received an honorable mention. LaLiberte finished 9th in Conference in total blocks with 41 and 7th in Conference in service aces with 32. 

Head Coach Marion Champion shared that "We were in and competing with every opponents this year, and were able to earn an emotional and rewarding victory in five sets to wrap up our season on the road at Imperial, who had beaten us at home earlier in the season."  She went on to say "We thank our sophomores for their hard work, leadership and character and a special note to Savannah Sharp who maintained a 4.0 GPA through two seasons and has been nominated for the All-State Academic Team."

The team will return freshman standout Marisol Ruiz (Thermal Desert Mirage) who was a starting middle blocker for the Roadrunners all season and who lead the team in blocks with 50 and hitting percentage with a .234.  Other key first-year players include OH London Felder (Rancho Cucamonga Alta Loma), DS Allixandria Durrum (Twentynine Palms H.S.) and RS/MB Chrishayla Jackson (Desert Hot Springs H.S.) who garnered substantial playing time and look to fill valuable roles in the line-up next season.  Additional red-shirt athletes will bring their season of experience to the table as well.

Photo by Brian Sylva (COD SID)
Information, Photos & Story provided by COD Sports Information.