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CONGRATULATIONS
Danetta Boykin signs as an
Indiana Hoosier:
http://www.iuhoosiers.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/041713aaa.html
Danielle Hochman commits to
University of Riverside
In his own words: Nabil Mardini reflects
on the back-to-back-to-back championships
December 2, 2012
Our Pierce Volleyball Team capped off its 2012 season on Sunday (December 2) with a three-peat and won another State Championship. This makes it three consecutive CCCAA state championships, and back-to-back undefeated seasons for the Brahmas.
I thought you might enjoy seeing/listening to how it ended. Copy and paste the High Definition video link below onto your browser and give it about 40 seconds to download: https://wbsfvideoservices.egnyte.com/h-s/20121203/af4e5c7ebad34ff8
The team insured that our 66-match winning streak will stretch into a third season in 2013. No other team in the history of California Community College, except for and ironically enough, the Rustlers of Golden West College, has ever three-peated as champions. For more information on this weekend, including caps, box scores, and videos of the matches, go to: http://www.cccaasports.org/
“A championship is something you're always chasing. The best time of my life has been the last three Christmas following each of the three championships. You want to keep the celebrations short and get back to work per our standards here at Pierce, but then at times, you can’t help it but get the butterflies in my stomach once in a while as I sit in my office and reminisce. I had a good feeling going into the state tournament and I even got a little emotional in my hotel room that morning prior to playing Golden West.
Seeing the girls' celebrating and hugging each other after the final ball dropped reminded me why I enjoy this profession of coaching so much. The day prior to the finals, we knew that's the hardest match to win was the semis against Golden West, and we clearly had a disadvantage having to play a back to back 3 out of 5 game match. The girls fought back with resiliency, and an effort that is so unique and rare in sports, let alone life itself that can only come from the heart, the Brahmas roared back and outlasted Golden West in five games.
I have been lucky to have had great players and people commit to play for me over my 12 years at Pierce College. This particular championship is tribute to all the players, coaches, and people I surrounded myself with throughout the years and I will cherish this one more time and forever. This particular group is not only a talented group but good people with high morals and a work ethic that is second to none. Not sure I had much to do with it. Sports reveal character; it doesn't build character contrary to the common belief in our society.
We will miss our seniors especially our two captains: Brooke Dawson and Danielle Hochman.
Women’s Volleyball Team Goes
Undefeated….again….on its way to winning its
third consecutive State Championship (2010,
2011, and 2012)
The Pierce Volleyball Team capped off its
2012 season on
Sunday (December 4 of 2012)
with a repeat and won another State
Championship. That makes it a back to back
to back championship for the program by
defeating Golden West College to join the Rustlers, ironically enough, as the only programs in
state history to win three straight titles.
Additionally, not only were the Brahmas the
team to beat all year as they were ranked
number one in the state from the start of
the season and held down the top ranking in
the state all year around, they went
undefeated and completed another perfect
season (33W-0L) and extended the streak to
66 matches in a row.
In a year when the pressure alone of
defending its 2011 State Championship was
felt throughout, and if there were any doubts as to whether it was possible for the Brahmas
to improve on last year's undefeated record,
they put them to rest in convincing fashion
at the California Community College Athletic
Association women's volleyball state
championships, completing back-to-back 33-0
seasons at Fullerton College.
After rallying from being down 1-2 in games
in the winner’s bracket final against the
same team Golden West, the top-seeded
Brahmas played almost flawlessly and beat
Golden West 25-20, 25-21, 25-22 in the championship to become the SECOND
team in state history to capture
back-to-back titles. The team’s 33-0 record
is also the best overall season record in
the history of the California Community
College Women’s Volleyball and the only
two-year college in the nation to go
undefeated on its way to winning a
championship.
In the final match against Golden West, and
unlike its first round match against the
same team a day prior, when Pierce had to
rally from being down one to two in games,
the Brahmas controlled the match from the
start and with the help of tournament MVP,
Sakurako Fujii, and All American AVCA 1st Team Danetta Boykin, All-Tournament
selections, Janelle Futch, Ashlea Smith, and
Brooke Dawson, who each had 17 kills, 9
kills, 42 assists, 10 kills, and 12 digs
respectively, the Brahmas won convincingly
in three straight and secured the
three-peat.
Furthermore, freshman opposite, Kira
Guarino, had 5 kills, and sophomore middle
blocker, Jessica Burns, also had 5 kills,
Danielle Hochman contributing six digs and 1
ace.
Recap of the last TWELVE seasons
The Women's Volleyball Program has come a
long way since the head coach of the
Brahmas, Nabil Mardini, took over the helm.
It is worth noting that in the past twelve years, the program holds a record
of 283 wins to 50 losses (83% winning
percentage), which includes a current
66-game winning streak dating back to
December of 2010, a 62-game home winning
streak, as well as the winner of ELEVEN Western State Conference Championships, an
Elite Eight Appearance in 2004, a Final Four
Appearance in 2005, a State Runner Up in
2006, and THREE-time State Champions in
2010, 2011, and 2012.
"BRAHMAS ARE VERY RARE PEOPLE"
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