Sophomore outside hitter Nalani Young became the first AVCA All-American selection in the history of Pasadena City College women's volleyball with her selection to the national Third Team as well as being named All-State. She was also one of seven Lancers named to the 2021 All-South Coast Conference Team.
Young's selection, one of just nine players statewide to earn the recognition, is another accolade in the veteran player's career at PCC. As a freshman in 2019, she was the first Lancer to ever reach 300 kills and 300 digs in a single season. Despite missing a year to the COVID-19 pandemic, Young developed into a team leader this season in helping Pasadena win the South Coast Conference title, match the program's most victories in a season at 23-1, and see her team earn the #2 seed in the upcoming SoCal Regional Playoffs. (seed release, click here)
This season, Young has delivered as an all-around player with a 2.54 kills average, a 3.41 digs per set clip (leads team in overall digs with 259) and she has served 40 aces.
"Nalani has been a standout in our program from the day she stepped in the gym," said PCC head coach Mike Terrill. "She possesses the intangible skills that are difficult to teach--she has shown full commitment to PCC volleyball. She's a solid student, the toughest competitor I've coached here, and she's the definition of a winner plus a natural leader. Her volleyball IQ is sky high. She's an incredibly talented defensive player and passer, scores points from the service line, and is never afraid to go for it during big moments. This is an historic achievement to reach All-American not only for Nala, but also for her teammates over the past three years as well as all the alumni of PCC volleyball. The entire coaching staff could not be more proud."
Young is the first Lancer named All-State since 2012 when middle blocker Jackie Valle-Acosta earned the honor.
PCC was ranked No. 5 in the Final Regular Season CCCWVCA State Top 25 Rankings.
SEVEN LANCERS NAMED ALL-SOUTH COAST CONFERENCE
Young was the only 2-time, All-South Coast Conference First Team selection from any of the conference schools on the 2021 squad, released earlier this week. She led a contingent of seven PCC players, the most of any team, on the First and Second Teams.
Freshman opposite/middle blocker Camila Sanchez-Tellez, the SCC Tournament MVP, also made First Team with a team-best 2.68 kills per set and a quality .272 hitting percentage. She added 44 blocks and 51 digs. Frosh middle blocker Monet Latunde was selected First Team after leading the Lancers at the net with 47 blocks, a 1.54 kills average and a team-best .292 attack mark.
Making All-SCC Second Team were sophomore middle blocker Paulina Lopez, who averaged 1.5 kills, hit .290, and averaged 0.65 blocks per set (31 total); freshman outside hitter Sabiya Esquivel, who averaged 2.4 kills and 1.25 digs per set, freshman setter Nayeli SalasOrtiz, who led PCC in set assists with a 5.43 average as part of a 6-2 rotation to go with a 1.7 digs average and 33 aces; and first-season libero Kei'ana Pascua, a skilled backrow talent who averaged 3.5 digs and served 37 aces.
PCC was inexplicably shut out of the big awards with second-place Mt. San Antonio earning MVP (setter Ally Euston), Libero of the Year (Riannel Arevalo) and Coach of the Year (Samantha Neely) despite the Mounties losing to the Lancers in all three of their conference matches and getting upset by non-playoff qualifier Cerritos.
Complete All-SCC Women's Volleyball Team
