Feather River No. 1 in final State Women's Volleyball Top 25

Feather River No. 1 in final State Women's Volleyball Top 25

Feather River No. 1 in final State Women's Volleyball Top 25
December 12, 2024

Feather River No. 1 in final State Women's Volleyball Top 25

Feather River College found magic at the right time of the year, and right time of the championship final in being selected No. 1 in the Final 2024 CCCWVCA State Top 25 Rankings. 

The Golden Eagles rallied from two sets down to perform a reverse sweep on previously #1-ranked Fresno City to win their third state championship (also 2019 and 2022). An original #6 seed in the North and #4 for the tourney also had beaten North #3 seed San Joaquin Delta, a team that had been at the top of the rankings for much of the season, in the regional finals. 

The final top 10 teams were an even split between North and South with Fresno #2, San Diego Mesa #3, American River at #4, Long Beach City #5, Cerritos #6, Sierra #7, LA Mission #8, Grossmont #9, and San Joaquin Delta rounding out the group at #10.

The final ranking takes into account all the teams body of work, not just playoff results.

  1. FEATHER RIVER, Golden Valley, 31-7: The Golden Eagles won their final 12 matches, five in the postseason to capture the title. Chloe Albiez (tourney-high 53 kills) was MVP, Ane Tuinaivai and Lucy Ryan All-Tourney. FRC received a golden ticket and jetted up 11 spots to #1. NorCal 1; Last State Rank: #12
  2. FRESNO CITY, Central Valley, 30-5: The Rams had their 23-match win streak stopped in the finale as they finished 1-2 in three meetings v. Feather River as state runner-up. Savanna FauntLeroy was Setter of the Tourney (she had a triple-double in the quarterfinals on 12 kills, 52 assists, and 14 digs), Malia Edwardson Libero of the Tourney, and Phoebe Constable also All-Tourney. A one spot drop. NorCal 2; Last State Rank: #1
  3. SAN DIEGO MESA, Pacific Coast Athletic, 26-2: The Olympians were the lone South team to reach the semifinals, winning v. Sierra in four. Mesa saw a 17-match win streak stopped by Fresno in four in the semis. Bella Town (30 kills) was All-Tourney. The defending state champs can boast being the top team in the region for the second straight season in placing tied for third at state. SoCal: 1; Last State Rank: #3
  4. AMERICAN RIVER, Big 8, 28-5: The Beavers sixth consecutive trip to state resulted in a tie for third. ARC had swept Feather River twice in the regular season, but was swept itself by the FRC in the semis to end a 13-match win streak. Morgan Castaneda was All-Tourney. NorCal 3; Last State Rank: #4
  5. LONG BEACH CITY, South Coast South, 23-2: The Vikings first appearance at state in 24 years ended with a 4-set quarterfinals loss to Feather River. Cerritos handed Long Beach its only other loss. LBCC ties for fifth. Kaylani Moncada was All-Tourney. LBCC slides three spots down at the finish. SoCal 2; Last State Rank: #2
  6. CERRITOS, South Coast South, 20-4: The Falcons may have been the surprise team of the postseason, making state for the first time in 30 years and taking Fresno to extra points (19-17) and five sets in a quarterfinals thriller defeat. Cerritos settles for a tie for fifth at state. Jasmine Soto-Castro was named All-Tourney while Sydney May was equally fantastic in the Fresno match (20 kills, 25 assists, eight blocks). Cerritos takes an elevator ride four floors up. SoCal 3; Last State Rank: #10
  7. SIERRA, Big 8, Big 8, 27-6: The Wolverines lost to SD Mesa in the quarterfinals in four and tie for fifth at state. Sierra was 2-0 v. Feather River in the regular season. and 1-1 v. Fresno, and 1-1 v. American River. Paige Skinner was All-Tourney. Sierra falls just one spot. NorCal 4; Last State Rank: #6
  8. LA MISSION, Western State North, 27-5: The Eagles lost to American River in four and tie for fifth at state. It's the best season in the 11-year history of the LA Mission program. Oluwatoyin Sunday was All-Tourney. SoCal 4; Last State Rank: #8
  9. GROSSMONT, Pacific Coast Athletic, 19-9: The Griffins had the distinction of defeating both state finalists, Feather River and Fresno, at the NorCal-SoCal Showcase in August. Cerritos swept them in Round 2. Grossmont also beat Moorpark, Mt. San Antonio and was 1-1 v. Palomar. Avery Banaag was named All-South Region. Grossmont jets eight spots into top 10. SoCal 5; Last Week's State Rank: #17
  10. SAN JOAQUIN DELTA, Big 8, 26-5: Feather River proved to be the Mustangs achilles heel, losing to the Golden Eagles in the title match of the Delta Classic and again in the regional finals in four. All-North Region Caprisa Brock made a triple-double in the team's second round win over West Valley on 16 kills, 21 assists and 11 digs. Delta drops five slots. NorCal 5; Last State Rank: #5
  11. ORANGE COAST, Orange Empire, 24-3: The Pirates had a 14-match win streak snapped in a 5-set regional finals loss to LA Mission. Nika Safavi powered 19 kills in the team's 2nd Round win over Canyons. Orange Coast had wins over Ventura, Mt. San Antonio, Santa Monica and twice over Saddleback and lost in five to LBCC. OCC fell two ranks. SoCal 6; Last State Rank: #9
  12. MOORPARK, Western State North, 22-5: Despite being upset by San Bernardino Valley in Round 2, the Raiders had a tremendous season that included wins over Cerritos and twice over LA Mission plus a 5-set loss to Long Beach. Grace Hazelton was an All-South Region selection. Moorpark descended five positions. SoCal 7; Last State Rank: #7
  13. PALOMAR, Pacific Coast, 19-6: The Comets beat Santa Monica in Round 2, then lost to Long Beach in four in the regional finals. Palomar had wins over Grossmont, Saddleback, San Bernardino Valley, and MiraCosta and had 5-set losses to SD Mesa and Cerritos. Janell Spires was selected All-South Region. Palomar walked up the stairs a floor. SoCal 8; Last State Rank: #14
  14. MT. SAN ANTONIO, South Coast North, 20-8: The Mounties reached the regional finals, losing to SD Mesa in four, beat Santa Barbara twice, Santa Monica once, and split v. Pasadena. Jordyn Romano earned an All-SoCal Region spot. Mt. SAC makes a two rung ladder rise. SoCal 9; Last State Rank: #16
  15. SANTA BARBARA CITY, Western State North, 19-8: The Vaqueros split v. Moorpark, Ventura and Bakersfield, beat Pasadena and MiraCosta and lost to LBCC in four. Mt. SAC defeated them in four in Round 2. Valeria Bellodas was an All-SoCal Region choice. SBCC slid two spots. SoCal 10; Last State Rank: #13
  16. SANTA MONICA, Western State South, 18-9: The Corsairs lost to Palomar in four in Round 2. They beat LA Mission, Moorpark, Ventura and Bakersfield twice, and have losses to SD Mesa and LBCC in four each. Annah Legaspi was the state leader in digs per set at 5.44. Just a small one rating drop. SoCal 11; Last State Rank: #15
  17. SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY, Inland Empire Athletic, 19-8: The Wolverines had a strong postseason run, winning two matches including an upset over Moorpark in four before swept by Cerritos in the regional finals. SBVC beat Ventura in four and lost to Saddleback in five. Manaia Mamea totaled 54 kills and 44 digs in three playoff matches. SBVC climbs five rankings. SoCal 12; Last State Rank: #22
  18. SADDLEBACK, Orange Empire, 18-7: The Bobcats beat Pasadena in Round 1, then played a close 4-set loss to LA Mission (99-92 in points) in Round 2. The team's best regular season wins were over MiraCosta and San Bernardino Valley. Meg Gardner scored 21 kills with 10 digs in the first playoff win. Saddleback takes the safari tram up a steep hill three spots. SoCal 13; Last State Rank: #21
  19. PASADENA CITY, South Coast North, 16-12: The Lancers lost to Saddleback in Round 1. PCC played the most difficult schedule of any team in the state, facing seven of the eight state tourney teams. Pasadena defeated Grossmont, Mt. San Antonio, San Bernardino Valley and Ventura, and lost to Moorpark in five. Biko Hollie was the MVP of the SCC North Division. SoCal 14; Last State Rank: Unranked
  20. VENTURA, Western State North, 16-10: The Pirates swept Mt. San Jacinto in Round 1 before losing to SD Mesa in four in Round 2. Ventura recorded wins v. LA Mission, Santa Barbara, and Canyons. Shai Daniels posted 18 kills, 30 digs and seven aces in two playoff contests. VC took an Uber three blocks downtown. SoCal 15; Last State Rank: #23
  21. CANYONS, Western State South, 16-10: The Cougars were swept by Orange Coast in Round 2. COC has wins over Bakersfield, Santa Monica and MiraCosta and 5-set losses v. Cerritos and Grossmont. Ana Vasquez was a First Team All-WSC South selection. Canyons loses a turn and has to go back two spaces. Last State Rank: #19
  22. BAKERSFIELD, Western State South, 17-11: The Renegades beat MiraCosta in Round 1, then were swept by Long Beach in Round 2. They have wins over Sierra, Santa Barbara, Canyons and 4-set losses v. Feather River, Fresno and Delta. Stevie Yursik was a Third Team All-American. Bakersfield pulls itself up two slots. Last State Rank: #24
  23. SAN MATEO, Coast South, 19-8: The Bulldogs were beaten in Round 2 by Merced. CSM has a win over Sierra, went 2-0 v. Solano, had a 5-set loss v. American River and split v. West Valley. Aniyah Hill was a Second Team All-American.  San Mateo fell three spaces. NorCal 6; Last State Rank: #20
  24. TAFT, Central Valley, 27-5: The Cougars beat Hartnell in four in Round 2, then were swept by Sierra in the regional finals. Taft beat Shasta, swept Cosumnes River, and defeated Merced twice. Grace Witcher was named All-State. Taft slid 13 spaces. NorCal 7; Last State Rank: #11
    T25.     SHASTA, Golden Valley, 27-9: The Knights defeated Solano in Round 2 in four, then were swept by American River in the regional finals. Shasta has a win over Cosumnes River. All-North Region choice Madelyn Frick set a new single-season state record for kills with 692. NorCal T8; Last State Rank: #T25
    T25. COSUMNES RIVER, Big 8, 17-13: The Hawks swept Los Medanos in Round 1, then lost to Sierra in four in Round 2. CRC has an upset win over Delta, took American River to five in a loss. Abby Siever was a All-Big 8 First Team selection. NorCal T8; Last State Rank: Unranked
    T25. MIRACOSTA, Pacific Coast Athletic, 14-10: The Spartans lost to Bakersfield in four in Round 1. They have wins over Grossmont and Palomar to their credit. Daysha Halbert was All-PCAC First Team. Last State Rank: #T2S
    T25. SOLANO, Bay Valley, 26-6: The Falcons lost to Shasta in 4 in Round 2. Solano has a win over Cosumnes River, 5-set wins over Shasta and West Valley and a 5-set loss to Delta. Vanya Paopao was a 2-time, All-North Region selection. The team makes a final free fall of seven ranks. NorCal T8; Last State Rank: #18

    BEST OF THE REST
    Mt. San Jacinto, Inland Empire Athletic, 17-10: The Eagles were swept by Ventura in Round 1. MSJC went 1-1 v. San Bernardino Valley, beat Pasadena and Riverside.
    Riverside City, Orange Empire, 17-10: The Tigers lost to SBVC in four in Round 1. They were 1-2 v. San Bernardino, 1-1 with an upset win v. Orange Coast.
    Merced, Central Valley, 20-7: The Blue Devils beat San Mateo in four in Round 2, then swept by Fresno in the regional finals. NorCal 11; Last State Rank: #T25
    Cypress, Orange Empire, 13-13: The Chargers placed fourth in the OEC, got sweeps over Saddleback and Riverside.
    Coalinga, Central Valley, 21-8: The Falcons lost to Feather River in four in Round 2. NorCal 12
    Hartnell, Coast North, 17-13: The Panthers lost to Taft in four in Round 2. NorCal 13
    West Valley, Coast South, 15-13: The Vikings beat Modesto in four in Round 1, then lost to Delta in four in Round 2. NorCal 14
    Santa Rosa, Big 8, 14-17: The Bear Cubs defeated Sequoias in four in Round 1, then swept by American River in Round 2. NorCal 15
    Ohlone, Coast South, 23-8 The Renegades beat Monterey Peninsula in 4 in Round 1, then was swept by Fresno in Round 2. 
    Monterey Peninsula, Coast North, 15-7: The Lobos lost to Ohlone in four in Round 1. 
    Sequoias, Central Valley, 16-15: The Giants lost to Santa Rosa in four in Round 1.
    Modesto, Big 8, 14-16: The Pirates lost to West Valley in four in Round 1.
    Los Medanos, Bay Valley, 15-16: The Mustangs were swept by Cosumnes River in Round 1. 
    Sacramento City, Big 8, 15-17: The Panthers finish fifth in the Big 8.
    Cuesta, Western State North, 13-16: The Cougars finished tied for fifth in the WSC North. 
    Allan Hancock, Western State North, 13-10: The Bulldogs finish tied for fifth in the WSC North. 
    Las Positas, Coast North, 12-8: The Hawks finished third in the Coast North.  
    Desert, Inland Empire Athletic, 13-10: The Roadrunners placed third in the IEAC.
    Southwestern, Pacific Coast Athletic, 13-12: The Jaguars finish fifth in the PCAC.