Volleyball ranked 14th in NJCAA preseason poll

Amanda Booren - 8/18/2008 Sharon Nelson, San Jacinto College’s head volleyball coach, will lead a young team in 2008.

PASADENA, Texas – The San Jacinto College volleyball team will open the 2008 season ranked 14th in the nation in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) pre-season poll. With just three returning players from last season’s team that finished sixth at nationals, SJC head coach Sharon Nelson is relying on her young squad to take San Jac back to the national tournament.

“My outlook on this season is that anything less than last year is not acceptable,” noted Nelson, who enters her sixth season as head coach. “This preseason is slightly different from last in that we have an almost completely new team, therefore it will be a process, but we will take each day, each game, and each match and look for ways to improve each time we touch the ball.”

Returning from last season’s 30-13 squad (12-0 in conference play) are sophomores Julia Teixeira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Bruna Rocha (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Both outside hitters were all-Region XIV selections in 2007, and ranked among the team’s best in hitting efficiency and kills per game. “Julia and Bruna have national tournament experience, and should step up to be leaders on the court,” added Nelson. The third returnee is Shaundalyn Taylor from Irving, Texas, who saw limited play on the court last season at middle blocker.

With the addition of 10 new players, San Jac will definitely have a new look on the court. “These new players know they are expected to step up as key players, they know they’re expected to be impact players, they are excited about playing and eager to learn,” said Nelson.

Nelson has added Mike McCrary to her coaching staff, replacing longtime assistant coach Jeff Ham. McCrary comes to San Jac with three years of college coaching experience, and over 12 as a club coach, most with South Shore Juniors in League City. “I’m excited to have Michael on board with San Jac volleyball,” said Nelson. “He comes to us with a great deal of volleyball knowledge and is well respected in the volleyball community.”

SJC opens the 2008 season at home August 22-23 with the San Jacinto College Invitational Tournament. San Jac will then play seven home games the remainder of the season in Anders Gymnasium on the Central campus located at 8060 Spencer Highway in Pasadena. The Region XIV tournament will be played November 7 and 8, and the NJCAA national tournament will return to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and the Mid-America Center, November 20– 22.

For more information about San Jacinto volleyball, please visit www.sanjac.edu/athletics.