Sekona, Herrera earn first CCCSIA Athlete of the Month honors of the year
SACRAMENTO - Women's volleyball standout Mapuhola Sekona from West Valley College and Football star Armando Herrera of San Bernardino Valley College turned in outstanding performances during September and were rewarded for their efforts by being named the California Community College Sports Information Association Women's and Men's Student Athletes of the Month.
Listed below are recaps for the month for both the winners and honorable mention selections.
September Female Student Athlete of the Month
Mapuhola Sekona | West Valley College | Women's Volleyball | Sophomore
The 2017 CCCAA regular season total kills and kills-per-set leader is back at it again in 2018. Mapuhola Sekona averaged a state-high 5.06 kills-per-set in September and was fourth in overall kills. For the month, Sekona topped the Coast-North in kills (167), kills-per-set (5.56), was third in digs-per-set (3.46) and fourth in total digs (104) She led the Vikings in five categories and was second on the team in service aces (0.39/set) and third in blocks (0.35/set). The Vikings went 7-1 in September, highlighted by Sekona’s 28-kill, 12-dig, two-service ace output in a 3-1 win over Feather River on 9/13, and her 22 kills and 20 digs against Santa Rosa later that same afternoon. Sekona finished the month with 25 kills and 16 digs in West Valley’s 3-1 win over Foothill Sept. 26.
September Male Student Athlete of the Month
Armando Herrera | San Bernardino Valley College | Football | Sophomore
In five games, he has thrown for 1,519 yards and 23 touchdowns, leading the Wolverines to a 4-1 record. He set a new standard by throwing seven touchdown passes in a game (in back-to-back games), and is four touchdowns off from the school's single season record. He is three touchdown passes from tying the school's career touchdown pass mark, and 396 yards from eclipsing the all-time yards mark. He has completed nearly 60 percent of his pass attempts this season. And in one of his seven touchdown games, he threw for 415 yards.
Honorable Mention - Women
Angelica Ortega | Santiago Canyon College | Women's Soccer | Sophomore
Team Captain for 11-0 Santiago Canyon College Women's Soccer, Angelica has scored a goal or had an assist in each of the games played in September. This is all the more notable as Angelica is not a forward. Her performances have been instrumental to the teams success so far this season. Off the field, Angelica is also exemplary, holding a 3.64 GPA as well as tutoring in the Math Study Hall.
Ashtyn Lyneis| College of the Desert | Women's Volleyball | Sophomore
College of the Desert Women’s Volleyball is off to its best season in program history thanks in large part to the efforts of team captain, sophomore setter Ashtyn Lyneis (Palm Springs H.S.). The 5-7, all-around setter and team captain is a local Coachella Valley product and is in her second year of leading the Roadrunners in assists per set and aces per set. As of September 29th, the team was off to a 12-1 start and a state ranking of #24, both firsts for the program. Lyneis is currently #2 in the State in Assists per set at 11.90, has an impressive 4.05 digs per set and is in the top five in the powerful PCAC-North in assists (#1), Aces (#3), Digs (#4), and blocks (#4). Lyneis has recently been added to the Academic All-State list with a 3.59 GPA.
Honorable Mention - Men
Rodolfo Castro |West Valley College | Men's Soccer | Sophomore
The West Valley men’s soccer team had an unprecedented September in terms of offensive output, thanks in large part to Rodolfo Castro. The Vikings outscored their opponents 32-7 in six games, going 5-0-1 against CCCAA teams. Castro found the back of the net a team-high seven times, including three game-winning goals, and handed out six assists in September. He struck for two goals and a pair of assists in West Valley’s 5-2 win over Foothill on 9/8, logged a goal and two helpers in an 8-1 win over Feather River Sept. 22, scored a key goal in a crucial 4-0 win at rival Evergreen Valley on 9/25, and finished the month with two scores and an assist against Gavilan in WVC’s 10-2 Sept. 28 win.
Greg Viloria | San Joaquin Delta College | Men's Wrestling | Sophomore
Greg wrestles at the 125 lb weight class. He took first at the Sacramento City Tournament and is currently 7-0 on the season. He is currently ranked #1 at his weight class in the first state rankings.
(Brian Sylva, CCCSIA)