Volleyball Season Preview: New Faces Up and Down the Roster

A year with no action on the hardwood brings a lot of change.

For the Riverside City College women's indoor volleyball program, that change consists of a fresh set of student-athletes and a new leader at the helm of the program.

The newest additions to the Tiger's squad is Head Coach Clara Lowden. She replaces longtime head coach Monica Hayes-Trainer who was in the driver's seat of the program for the last 11 years. Assistant coaches Mike Curtis and Andy Webster return for the 2021 campaign to round out the coaching staff.

The Tigers look to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016. They will look to do it behind a handful of familiar faces.

Sophomore setter Hailey Gray returns for her second campaign after acting as a standout player. In 2019, she led the team with 596 assists equaling a 6.77 assist-per-set ratio. She notched seven matches with 30 or more assists highlights by a 44 assist match in a three-set win over Santiago Canyon. Additionally, she was second on the team with 33 service aces and third on the team with 182 digs.

Riverside will be looking to find the go-to target behind the Gray sets with the top-four offensive weapons departing and transferring. Sophomore middle blocker Keeley Hober returns to man the net after notching 83 kills which was good for just over one kill-per-set. She lead the team with 72 total blocks as well.

Sophomore Miranda Gates is the lone returner on the outside. She hammered home 45 kills in 27 matches (88 sets played) and contributed 78 digs and 34 aces. Her aces lead the team in 2019. Sophomore Molly Watson had a small sample size of 11 matches (17 sets) played. She recorded 41 assist and banked nine digs. 

Freshman Maggie Aburto, Jessica Lepe and Mya Diaz are the three other rosters weapons. Freshman Kayla Brown will join Hober in the net as the other middle blocker.

The libero position is up for grabs with the lone returner being sophomore Tarran Ortiz who redshirted her first season. Freshman quartet Mya Castro, Ashley Elias-Romero, Isabella Pelayo and Alyssa Riddle round out the depth chart.

Riverside opens their season on the road today against Mt. San Jacinto and San Diego Mesa. Matches are slated for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.