ROCKVILLE — Sammy Brown earned her second consecutive Most Valuable Player award Sunday in the Bay Valley Conference and Darla Williams was the Coach of the Year as the Solano Community College volleyball team was well represented after its unbeaten season in all-conference voting by coaches.
Brown had a total of 427 kills, 384 digs and 59 aces. The Vacaville High School graduate is second in the state in total kills. In the BVC, Brown is No. 1 in kills, No. 1 in hitting percentage, second in kills per set, third in digs and third in total aces. She was the All North Player of the Week in the state in week two, and she was Athlete of the Month in September at the college.
"I could not tell you the last time a player got this recognition two years in a row, one because I can't recall a first-year athlete getting the award in my 20 years," Williams said in an email of Brown. "She earned this award."
Williams was honored as the Falcons have won 47 consecutive BVC matches and five consecutive conference titles. Williams also has upped her career win total to 529.
Dani Rydjord once again was named to the first team all-conference. The Vacaville High graduate is fourth in the state in both aces and assists. Rydjord is No. 1 in the BVC for assists per set (7.84), she is third in aces per set and hitting percentage. Rydjord has 812 assists and 67 aces in 30 matches, serving at 95%.
Kelsey Wall was named to the first team as well. The Vanden High graduate is an outside hitter and usually plays in six rotations. She is third in the BVC in total kills and total points. She is sixth in total digs and service aces. Wall has a season total of 264 kills, 276 digs, 21 blocks and 45 aces as a freshman.
Crystal Carroll was also named to the first team. She is the Falcons' libero and defensive specialist. The Will C. Wood graduate is second in the BVC in digs and second in digs per set. She is eighth in aces. Her overall totals this season include 388 digs, 42 assists, 37 aces while serving at 92% as a sophomore.
"I don't know if I have ever been awarded four first team all-BVC honors," Williams said. "These girls are all well deserving."
Hannah Del Rio was awarded second team. In conference, the Wood graduate was third in total blocks, third in hitting percentage and fourth in block assists. She has an overall total of 178 kills, 22 solo blocks and 42 assist blocks as a sophomore.
"It is hard to get five players recognized on the first or second team," Williams said. "I am glad our other conference coaches saw that we had a strong team and the student-athletes all deserved this recognition for their accomplishments. We played less sets than everyone else because we won 11 matches in only three sets, then our 12th match in four sets."
The Falcons will learn Thursday where they land in the playoff tournament. Williams said she expects a home match Saturday for the first round or a match on the road Nov. 22 for Round Two. The top 16 seeds earn first round byes.
By Matt Miller
Daily Republic News Source