The AVCA Two-Year College Success Stories initiative provides an opportunity to shine a light on some great volleyball competitors, and even better people, who are products of the two-year college community. This year we highlight Patricia Figueiredo, Bobbi Jo Stall-Vest, Alanna Whitnack, and Karina Woehrstein, who all have enjoyed great success both as collegiate athletes and professionally and personally since they graduated from two-year college institutions.

Nominations are accepted annually in the fall, and the stories are reviewed by a selection committee before being released early the following year. This year’s selection committee included: Yvette Ybarra of Glendale College (committee chair), Sonny Lewis of Owens Community College, Bob Vilsoet of Harper College, and Jayme Frazier of Linn-Benton Community College.

Bobbie Jo came to Mesa in 2006 as a transfer from Cal State San Bernardino. She played for us for 2 seasons, was captain in 2007 and holds a record for season hitting percentage. Her squad won conference both years, undefeated, not dropping a single set. She accepted a full-ride to play at East Carolina University for her last two years where she set a single match record for total blocks.  

Upon completing college, she got into coaching at the high school, club and college levels. In 2016 she went back to school, got her Masters in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia Irvine University. Upon completion she started coaching at Mesa in 2017 as an assistant, took over as indoor head coach back in 2018.

Coach Stall brought Mesa's program back to the highest point that it has been at since she played here. Since then, she has won a 3C2A Championship in 2023 and had won 3 PCAC championships, receiving coach of the year 3 times as well. A great full-circle story!