PANTHER VOLLEYBALL READY FOR THE 2019 SEASON

The Chaffey Panthers are optimistic as they head into the 2019 volleyball season, with their strongest incoming class yet. In 2018, the Panthers finished 15-10, greatly improving from the 2017 season. In her third season, Head Coach Gonzales-Harwell continues to build the strength of the program, adding 9 new players to the roster this year, as well as a new addition to the coaching staff, with assistant coach, Julia Erickson. 

Coach Erickson played for Clarke University where she was a 2-year scholar athlete and all-academic conference selection. Before Clarke, she competed for fellow CCCAA community college, Pierce College, which was the state championship runner-up team. Prior to transferring to Pierce, Erickson was a member of the volleyball program at Cal State East Bay.

This season, the Panthers are counting on the experience and leadership of three returning sophomores, including 2018 South Coast Conference-North standouts, Kendall Mency and Cecilia White. Mency, an outside hitter from Chino Hills was selected 2018 conference MVP and So Cal All Region honors. White, a setter from Alta Loma High, was a 2018 First Team All-Conference selection, a CCCAA state player of the week selection and led the SCC-North in assists. The Panthers also return defensive specialist Juliana Hernandez, who adds speed, agility and aggressiveness to the team's defense and serve receive offense.

New to the Panther squad in 2019 are several area talents hailing from top level high school volleyball programs. Kaylee Harris, and Hibah Yousif, a pin hitter and middle blocker respectively, both from Alta Loma High who finished in CIF quarterfinals last season. Mandi Lewis, a pin hitter from Rancho Cucamonga High School, where they brought home the 2018 Baseline League Championship. Additionally, the Panthers welcome Mackenzie Loring from Lake Arrowhead Christian, who helped lead her team to the 2018 Majestic League Championship, and Taylor Johnson from Granite Hills High coming off a Desert Sky League Championship and leading the league in blocks. 

The Panthers will be competing in the new Inland Empire Athletic Conference for 2019, and are striving to bring home the first IEAC Volleyball Championship.

Meet your 2019 Panthers at https://chaffeypanthers.com/sports/wvball/2019-20/roster