YVC Voice

Student-athletes from Yakima Valley College’s six sports were honored for their accomplishments in competition and in the classroom during the annual YVC Athletics Awards Ceremony on May 31.

Receiving top honors as recipients of the Larry Densley Award and Mary Sherar Award, presented to YVC’s Male and Female Athletes of the Year respectively, were Alexzander Delgado and Nizhoni Tallman.

Delgado, a sophomore guard from Yakima, helped lead the Yaks to their first NWAC basketball championship title since 2008 and was named tournament MVP. He led the Yaks with 3.9 assists per game and 1.3 steals per game, while also averaging 9.8 points and 3.2 rebounds.

Tallman, a freshman from Granger, played libretto on the volleyball team and was a utility player for the softball team. Tallman was a defensive standout for the volleyball team. Her 373 digs on the season were 12th-most in the NWAC and the Yaks made their first playoff appearance in eight years. Tallman also led the softball team in stolen bases with 27, while hitting .330.

Each team also presented its 2021-22 awards at the ceremony.

Men’s Basketball

• Yakety Yak (Top Offensive Player): Quentin Raynor
• ManiYak (Top Defensive Player): Bright Kari
• Most Valuable Teammate: Zander Delgado
• Yak Altitude Award: Trey Funk
• Most Improved: Mason Tinley

Women’s Basketball

• MVP: Taelyr Overby
• The Anchor (Best Defense): Macy Luhr
• Most Improved: Courtney Standley
• Hannah Cordova Award: Ashland Campbell
• Chairwoman of the Boards: Haley Wammock

Softball

• Most Valuable Player: Emmaleena Wood
• Most Inspirational Player: Nizhoni Tallman
• Most Improved Player: Emma Jay
• Hustle Award: Ivy Barnes
• Coaches Award: Karly Hanosky

Volleyball

• Most Inspirational: Zoelene Niuamoa
• Most Improved: Emaline Mariscal
• Best Offensive Player: Haylee Holker
• Best Defensive Player: Nizhoni Tallman
• Coaches Award: Alandra Acido-Pastor

Baseball

• Consistency Award – Jaydon Tomas
• Bobo Brayton Captain’s Award – Josh Davis
• Mel Stottlemyre Pitching Award – Coby Richards
• Bill Faller MVP Award – Hank Dunn
• Bob Garretson Big Stick Award – Ryne Hayes
• Most Improved – Owen Bischoff
• Coaches Choice – Kevin Corder

Soccer

• Most Inspirational: Aria Bragalone
• Most Improved: Addy Adams
• Best Offense: Rachel Farr
• Best Defense: Sophie Pixton
• Best Teammate: Brianna Garfias
• Coaches Award: Ella McKenna

NWAC All-Region Awards

• Baseball – Coby Richards, Hank Dunn, Ryne Hays (First Team); Corey Jarrell, Dane Fraser, Jace Hanson, Jagger Harris, Spencer Marenco (Second Team); Hank Dunn (Gold Glove)
• Volleyball – Haylee Holker (First Team); Courtney Standley (Second Team)
• Softball – Emmaleena Wood (First Team); Jessica Stanfield (Second Team)
• Men’s Basketball – Quentin Raynor (First Team)

NWAC All-Star Awards

• Men’s Basketball – Alexzander Delgado (Most Valuable Player); Quentin Raynor (First Team); Christian Murphy (Second Team and Most Inspirational); Godwin llumoka (Second Team)
• Volleyball – Nana Acedo-Pastor (Sophomore All-Star Team)
• Soccer – Isella Olivera, Sophia Pixton (East/South All-Star Team); Brianna Garfias, Madalyn Bakker, Rachel Farr (East/South All-Star Team Honorable Mention)