Women’s basketball team focuses on growth
For the women’s basketball team, playing their first season under the leadership of Head Coach Robin Andrea, it was a season focused on learning and growth.
While the team only notched a single win, beating Treasure Valley 65-63 on a buzzer-beater by Tahlia Klebaum, two other games went to overtime including coming up just short in a thrilling double overtime game against Blue Mountain. The team finished the season with a 1-24 record and 1-15 in conference play.
“Our ladies stayed positive, continued to give the necessary focus and effort to improve and never once slowed down or eased off that intensity,” Andrea said. “That commitment speaks loudly to the kind of young women we were fortunate enough to have on this year’s team, and it will be the foundation of their success in all aspects of their lives moving forward.”
During his first season at YVC, Andrea said his most memorable moment happened off the court when the team stopped at the SPARK Museum for Electrical Invention in Bellingham during a December road trip.
“Our girls dove into the exhibits, learned a ton and were active participants in the 60-minute demonstration,” he said. “A majority even dared to enter the ‘Cage of Doom,’ getting zapped by the MegaZapper.”
With the amount of time the team put into growing and improving over the past year, Andrea is confident a foundation of sustained, long-term success is being laid for the women’s program.
“We feel that we only truly lose when we don’t learn and grow from our experiences,” he said. “The lessons learned and the skills gained over the course of this season will be looked back upon as the price we paid to get where we’re going.”
Around the Horn: Volleyball and Soccer Honors
The Northwest Athletic Conference recently announced its 2021 Fall Sports Academic Leadership & Excellence awards, with three YVC student-athletes honors. Qualifications for recognition are to be a sophomore in eligibility, have a minimum of 36 credits earned and a 3.25 cumulative GPA.
Academic Leadership awards (3.5 or higher GPA) were received by Cheyenne Rath, volleyball, and Macy Luhr, women’s soccer. An Academic Excellent award (3.25 – 3.49 GPA) was received by Sophia Pixton, women’s soccer.
All-Star honors also were presented to several volleyball and women’s soccer players.
Volleyball players honored in the NWAC’s East Region were Haylee Holker, Fr., First Team; Courtney Standley, Fr., Second Team; and Nana Acedo-Pastor, Sophomore All-Stars.
Women’s soccer players honored on the NWAC’s East Region All-Star Team were forward Isella Olivera and keeper Sophia Pixton with honorable mention players Brianna Garfias, Madalyn Baker and Rachel Farr.
