Giants look to build off 20-win season

By Nick Giannandrea

The return of the core from College of the Sequoias' winningest women's volleyball team in 14 seasons, and the arrival of a talented freshmen class have Giants coach Kim Rix looking to raise the bar in 2019.

"We have high expectations," said Rix, who is entering her sixth season at COS and first as a full-time faculty coach. "My goal is to keep building this program up. We don't want to take any steps back. We want to help these girls reach their full potential and take the program further than the year before."

After carrying only three sophomore last year, Rix returns eight this season, including the kills leader in Christa Pilgrim (Mission Oak High), assist leader in Sydney Guinn (Exeter) and digs leader in Alexis Carmona (Madera) from a team that went 20-9 overall, 14-4 in the Central Valley Conference and reached the first round of the Northern California Regional playoffs. It was the Giants' first 20-win season since they went 20-4 in 2004.

Pilgrim, an outside hitter, was named first-team all-conference after producing 268 kills, a team second-best 195 digs and 18 blocks. Guinn split time at setter with the departed Aubrey Cardoza and recorded 462 assists along with a team-best 48 aces and 172 digs. Carmona, also a first-team all-conference selection, played all of COS' 103 sets last season while making 434 digs and 44 aces.

"We're starting way more experienced than we were last season," said Rix, who is 73-39 overall and 56-22 in conference with the Giants.

The Giants welcome back five other battle-tested sophomores in outside hitter/middle blocker Madison Sousa (Hanford West), defensive specialist Peighton Sisk (El Diamante), right side Jillian Nyberg (Redwood), right side Mikayla Grimes (Edison), and outside hitter/right side Karen Rodriguez (Kingsburg).

All contributed to a COS team that reached the postseason for the fourth straight season in 2018.

* Sousa had 115 kills and 37 blocks. 

* Sisk had 80 digs. 

* Nyberg delivered 33 kills and 17 digs.

* Grimes contributed 53 kills and 31 blocks.

* Rodriguez added 91 kills, 51 digs and 11 blocks.

"Our sophomores are really good leaders," Rix said. 

Rix and staff - assistants Aaron Gardner, Lindsey Hall and George Ghattas - also recruited an eight-member freshmen class headlined by right side/middle blocker Hazel Martinez (Mission Oak) and middle blocker Jayda English (Lemoore).

The Giants' freshmen class also includes middle blocker Victoria Martin (Tulare Western), defensive specialist/setter Bryn Koeze (Central Valley Christian), defensive specialist Gia Rozadilla (Central), middle blocker/outside hitter Teagan Daugherty (Tulare Union), setter Kia Campbell (Coalinga) and right side Mary Shoals (Hanford West)

All 16 players on the roster contributed as COS opened its season Aug. 28 with wins over Monterey Peninsula (25-18, 25-18, 25-23) and Cuesta (25-23, 25-15, 20-25, 19-26, 16-14) in San Luis Obispo.

"They were right games and we knew we had to count on every player we put in to perform," Rix said. "Every player has proved they can contribute on the court. Everyone played because they all earned it."

The Giants return to action with matches Aug. 30 against San Jose City College and Monterey Peninsula in Monterey and Aug. 31 against Folsom Lake and Hartnell in Salinas.

COS' first home match is set for Sept. 20 against Porterville. The Gaints host CVC rival Fresno City on Oct. 11.

"We're optimistic about the season because of their work ethic and dedication," Rix said. "We have diverse and unique group of girls who all share the same goal. They are fun to coach and they work hard all the time."