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Post Season Honors Roll In for Roughriders


Article audio is made possible by CAST11 Prescott Podcast Network. A Talking Glass Media production.

Yavapai College Athletics saw some major successes in the spring season with the volleyball, softball, and baseball teams. Players on each team received some awards for a fantastic season! Congratulations to the Roughriders!

Volleyball

The American Volleyball Coaches Association has named Yavapai College head volleyball coach, Zach Shaver, as the two-year college Southwest Region Coach of the Year. Shaver led the Roughrider volleyball team to an ACCAC championship, an NJCAA Region I title, an NJCAA West District championship, and a trip to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament, the second time YC has advanced to the National Tournament.

The Roughriders ended the 2021 Spring season with a 12-7 overall record and a 7-1 ACCAC mark. Two Roughrider spikers were named NJCAA All-Americans, Liz Toiaivao and Heather Wanniger. Toiaivao was voted as the ACCAC Co-Player of the Year.

Softball

The post-season accolades continue to roll in for the Yavapai College softball team.

For their efforts, three players were named to the NJCAA National All-Tournament Team. Jocelyn Ulrich, Mikaela Payne, and Emily Dix earned the tournament awards.

In six games, Ulrich was 9 for 19 with 9 runs batted in, 2 runs scored, and 2 home runs.

Payne was 9 for 18 with 3 runs scored, 2 runs batted in, and 4 doubles.

In 27 innings pitched, Dix was 2-2 with 2 saves and 23 strikeouts.

On Friday, the NJCAA announced the 2021 DI All-American Teams and YC was well represented.

1st Team

Jocelyn Ulrich
(.482 67/139, 13 doubles, 1 triple, 17 home runs, 70 runs batted in, 59 runs)
ACCAC Division I Player of the Year

2nd Team

Mikaela Payne
(.432 62/143, 18 doubles, 1 triple, 17 home runs, 56 runs batted in, 43 runs scored)
2nd Team All-ACCAC, 1st Team All-NJCAA Region I

3rd Team

Emily Dix
(20-3, 3 saves, 145 strikeouts, 2.37 ERA)
1st Team All-ACCAC, 1st Team All-NJCAA Region I

Mia Weckel
(.424 59/139, 15 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 30 runs batted in, 65 runs scored)
1st Team All-ACCAC, 1st Team All-NJCAA Region I

Baseball

Two Roughrider baseball players earned NJCAA All-American Honors. Noah Turley and CJ Valdez were both honored with the awards for their efforts.

Turley was named the NJCAA Player of the Year. He led the league in batting average (.417), runs batted in (69), and home runs (22).

Valdez was a 1st Team All-ACCAC and 1st Team Division I All-Region I honoree. He hit .411, 62 runs batted, and knocked 17 home runs.


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