Ventura's Knowles and West Valley's Buzov earn first CCCSIA Athlete of the Month honors for the year
RIVERSIDE - Ventura College women's volleyball player Nevada Knowles and West Valley College men's water polo player Ante Buzov have been named the California Community College Sports Information Association (CCCSIA) State Women's and Men's Athletes of the Month for September, it was announced on Thursday.
Buzov has lead the top-ranked West Valley College Vikings to a 16-1 record behind his powerful offensive leadership. The sophomore center is packed in the middle of the Viking offense leading to a team-high 44 goals including nine games in which he hummed home two or more scores. His highlight of the season so far was scoring nine goals in a 15-12 win over then top-ranked Golden West to give his team their 12th win in 13 games. Of his 44 goals, 26 of them came against CCCAA competition. He currently carts a 62.9 shooting percentage. Defensively, he has pocketed 12 steals.
Knowles has been a consistent threat for the No. 4 Ventura College Pirates as she has led her team to 14-1 record, which includes a 2-1 conference clip. She currently paces her team with 310 assists leading to a 6.20 assist-per-set mark. While she does not lead the state in any categories, it may well be due to the efficiency of the offense, as she has led one of the most capable offenses in the state. The Pirates cart a fourth ranked .291 hitting percentage with only 222 errors on the year.
Knowles is a major part of that success as she has totaled 20 or more assists in nine games this season. She had a season-high 31 assists in a 3-1 win over Orange Coast and a 29-assist game in a 3-1 win over Imperial Valley. In 10 of the Pirates’ 14 wins, Ventura has completed the job in three sets thus making Knowles’ numbers even more impressive. Furthermore, she has recorded 96 digs, 32 services aces and 23 blocks.
Knowles is the first Ventura student-athlete, man or woman, to ever win the state award since the AOTM was created by the sports information association back in 2005. Buzov was the first male winner in West Valley history and just the second from the college, the last being Mapuhola Sekona from women's volleyball four years ago.
(Nicho DellaValle, CCCSIA President/Riverside City College)