The future looks bright for the Lady Palominos of Laredo Community College as they began their season out of state with several pre-season accolades from the National Junior College Athletic Association.
On Friday, LCC was in South Carolina participating in the second annual Pioneer Classic Volleyball Tournament at Spartanburg Methodist College.
LCC was scheduled to play Hiwassee College of Madison, Tenn. and Snead State Community College of Boaz, Ala.
LCC head coach Binny Canales is very optimistic about the Lady Palominos outlook, which was recently christened with a strong presence on the 2008 NJCAA Division I volleyball preseason poll.
Receiving top accolades is Mariana dos Santos Souza, a 510 outside hitter from Sao Paulo Brazil. She was selected Second Team Pre-season All-American.
Also impressive is the Lady Palominos dominance in the national poll for Top-Returning Players for Region 14.
Four returning players for LCC were selected to this poll, including Laredo native Ariana Bermea, a 55 setter and defensive specialist; Heather Sanchez, a 57 middle blocker/outside hitter from San Antonio; Anastacia Fogatu, a 510 middle blocker/outside hitter from Waianae, Hawaii; and Barbara Silva, a 61 setter/defensive specialist from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Im very proud of our returning student/athletes accomplishments and the national recognition they have brought to Laredo Community College, Canales said. Coupled with a strong freshman class, LCC will be a major force to reckon with on the courts.
Other sophomores on the Palomino roster include Sandra Reyes, a 50 defensive specialist from Laredo; Brittany Rendon, a 511 middle blocker from San Antonio; Eliane Cezario, a 511 outside hitter from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Liza Acosta, a 511 middle blocker from Laredo.
The freshman class consists of Meleana Yamashiro, a 58 outside hitter from Waipahu, Hawaii; Melissa Romero, a 54 setter from El Paso; Cassy Medina, a 55 defensive specialist from Laredo; Bianca Mares, a 510 middle blocker from San Antonio; Clary Martinez, a 50 libero from Laredo; Melanie Faaliga, a 510 right side hitter from Honolulu, Hawaii; and Delia Dominguez, a 54 defensive specialist from Laredo.
LCC first home game is a conference match against Wharton County Junior College on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Maravillo Gymnasium. Admission is free and open to Palomino fans.
The Laredo Community College Lady Palominos look forward to a bright future on the volleyball court in 2008.
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