Eagle Sophomore Setter, Two Freshmen are All-GVC in Volleyball
Three Eagle volleyball players finished the 2024 season with All-Golden Valley Conference honors, including sophomore setter Isabella Colombo, who made 1st Team All-GVC for a second year in a row.
Colombo was joined on this year’s 1st Team All-GVC by freshman teammate Sadie Graviet, a right side hitter who led the Eagles in attacks, kills and kills per set.
Eagle freshman middle blocker Ajhana Tagler made All-GVC Honorable Mention after leading the team and ranking second in conference with 36 solo blocks.
The Eagles started the season 2-8, but then won 9 of 12 and went into conference play with an 11-11 record. They finished 4-6 in a strong conference that featured league champion Feather River (10-0) and runner up Shasta (8-2). Shasta made it to the third round of the Northern California Regionals, while Feather River has advanced into the State’s Final 8.
Among the season’s highlights was a five-match winning streak in mid-September that included one-sided victories in their first three home matches of the season against San Jose, Redwoods and Yuba. During conference play in October, the Eagles rallied late during a pair of exciting five-set home matches against Lassen and Redwoods.
With a roster of nine freshmen and four sophomores, interim head coach Jess Petricevic said “the team did really well. We had high hopes going into the season and accomplished many of them.”
Petricevic, Siskiyous’ head beach volleyball coach, started the season as an assistant with the indoor team then filled in for head coach Lyndi Scholl after the birth of her son.
Isabella Colombo, from Naselle, WA, finishes her Eagles’ career with the team record for assists in a season. She ranked 3rd among GVC players with 639 assists and 5.81 assists per set this season, 9th in conference with 48 service aces, and 10th in conference with 265 digs. She finished her two-year Eagle career with 1,263 assists, 510 digs, and 91 aces.
“Bella is great as a setter, commanding the offense, and she stepped up her game on defense,” Petricevic said. “She was a great player to watch and to coach.”
Hard-hitting Sadie Graviet of Emmet, ID, ranked 7th in conference with 705 total attacks, 9th in conference with 225 kills, and 11th in conference with 2.05 kills per set. She was 10th in conference with 246.5 points and 11th in conference with 11 solo blocks.
“Sadie is a strong player and was our most consistent and hard-working player every day, on the court and off,” said Petricevic.
Ajhana Tagler came to Siskiyous from Winslow, AZ, and was “a force to be reckoned with,” according to Petricevic. Along with her 36 solo blocks, she led the team and ranked 9th in conference with 263.5 points and 57 total blocks. She was also 10th in conference with 193 kills and 15th with 507 attacks, while leading the team in hitting percentage and blocks per set.
“Ajhana is a tremendous blocker and one of our strongest middle players on offense,” Petricevic said. “She did a tremendous job in her first season.”
Other Eagles played some great volleyball this season and posted impressive numbers.
Sophomore libero Amelia Gastelum, who holds the team record for service aces, led the Eagles in that category as well as serve receptions, digs, and digs per set, while ranking high among GVC players in several categories. She was 1st in conference with 579 serve receptions, 3rd for aces per set, 4th with 58 aces, and 6th with 348 digs.
Freshman outside hitter Quincy Paarsch ranked 6th in conference with 414 serve receptions, 10th in conference with 42 service aces, 13th in conference with 240 digs, and 16th in conference with 490 total attacks.
Freshman outside hitter Heitiare Moala was third on the team in kills (151) and kills per set and 4th on the team in blocks per set. She was 9th in conference with 631 total attacks and had 132 digs.
Sophomore middle blocker Josie Cole was 3rd in conference with 23 solo blocks and 14th in conference with 41 total blocks. She finished the season with 100 kills and was 2nd on the team in blocks per set.
Freshman libero Sarah Speasl finished 4th on the team with 178 digs and 10th in conference with 295 serve receptions.
Petricevic hopes to have many of this year’s indoor players on the roster when the Eagles play their second season of beach volleyball in the spring.
By Steve Gerace