The San Diego Mesa College beach volleyball season ended on Saturday at the 3C2A Pairs State Championships at West Valley College.
After coming out of pool play with a 3-0 record, Sophia Jarosz and Austia Mendiola failed to advance past the round of 16, losing to Larissa Dakoske and Hailey Walton of Moorpark College 20-22, 19-21.
On Friday, placed in Pool #5, Tori Goff and Maddie Harris finished with a 1-2 record, ending their season and finishing in 4th place.
Friday’s Results:
PM PLAY | POOL 5
Goff and Harris defeat Crabbe / Medina (SBCC) 13-21, 21-16, 15-12
Rogers / Derecho (WVC) d. Goff / Harris 21-12, 21-23, 12-15
Dakoske / Watson (MOO) d. Goff / Harris 15-21, 21-17, 10-15
“Torri and Maddie had such a tremendous start by beating San Barbara’s 1s,” states head coach Kim Lester. “I am proud of their effort and the fight till the end attitude. It’s bittersweet because they were playing so well. That’s the thing about sports, you just never know, and on that day, we just couldn’t get into an offensive rhythm and struggled a bit with ball control.”
After four-years at Mesa College, Maddie Harris will be transferring to San Diego State University, where she will join the club team. “Maddie is an exceptional leader and person,” adds Lester. “Through COVID-19, and everything else that has happened, Maddie has always been our leader. She gives you 100% all the time, and will always do the right thing.”
Considered as the hardest working athlete to ever wear a SD Mesa uniform, Goff was the recipient of the Hard Hat Award, a recognition given by the coaches. “She’ll always go the extra mile and is the epitome of what a team player is,’ adds Lester. Assistant coach Flavia Virgili was a previous recipient of the award.
Goff has committed to play indoors for San Marcos. The program hopes to have Goff back in the spring as a dual enrolled student-athlete.
In Pool #6, Jarosz and Mendiola finished atop their pool with a 3-0 record, which propelled them into the state main draw on Saturday. Compared to their play on Friday, which included taking out Ventura College 1s, the duo struggled with ball control and fell to the team from Moorpark College.
Friday’s Results:
PM PLAY | POOL 6
Jarosz / Mendiola d. Rojelio / Moreno / Murdoch (VC) 21-18, 22-20
Jarosz / Mendiola d. Saxton / Taggert (CAB) 21-12, 24-22
Jarosz / Mendiola d. Abrams / Alexander (COD) 21-11, 21-16
It was unfortunate because everyone was playing so well,’ states Lester. “We struggled a bit on Saturday, but they battled. It was a couple of points that we missed out on that would have turned the match around.”
Both Jarosz and Mendiola have committed to continue their athletic and academic career at Cal State Northridge next season. Lester says, “they will be getting two amazing and strong young women. They both have a passion for this sport and will immediately be an impact on that team and will contribute right away.’
“We will miss their athleticism, but overall, their general presence. They have been nothing but a positive addition to the Mesa family. We will lose 7 very experienced sophomores this year. However, I am excited about our returning freshman, I look forward to working with key players like Emily Eltrich, Bree, Haley, Olivia.