Skinner/Adebodun and Boccia/Deter win matches at CCCAA Pairs Championships

The California Community College Athletic Association Pairs Championships were this past weekend at West Valley College in Saratoga where two Wolverine pairs competed including the 1's of Alexis Adebodun and Paige Skinner, and the 3's of Alexis Boccia and Jordyn Deter.

Adebodun and Skinner finished third in their pool as they took down the pair of Harm and Savorn of American River College 20-22, 22-20, 15-7, but lost their final two matches against Santa Barbara Community College and San Diego Mesa College. Both pairs they lost to ended up facing off for the championship on Saturday with Jager and Gomez winning from Mesa. 

"I was very proud of how they competed," Sierra coach Alanna Whitnack said. "Sometimes it is just about your draw. The Santa Barbara team we played was a team we saw in February, and we learned a lot. We played them much tougher this time around and it was fun to witness our improvement against an experienced beach only pair. Alexis Boccia and Jordyn tied for second in their pool and lost the tie break on games won/lost. Alexis Boccia was our most improved over the past two seasons and I loved watching how much she and Jordyn worked together to get better every practice. There were not many 3's teams there and so it is a testament to them and their willingness to look at the things they needed to improve on to compete with the best in the state."

Boccia and Deter came fourth in their respective pool at 1-2 as they beat the pair of Eltrich and Goff from San Diego Mesa, but lost in two sets to both Ventura College and San Diego Miramar College. 

There were 32 teams that competed at the tournament including 13 from Northern California and 19 from Southern California with the top 16 facing off on Saturday after Friday's pool play. 

This ends a very successful 2024 season where the Wolverines won the Big 8 and finished with an overall record of 18-6.

"Their tenacity made them special," Whitnack said. "We won matches at different positions in our ladder. Pairs stepped up when we needed them and they just seemed to know it was their time to get a big win. We had all five pairs qualify for the Big 8 Pairs Championship and four of those qualified for regionals. Only one other team in the North did that so I was very proud of the sophomores, the extra time they put in, and their commitment to doing the little things that make winning possible. This fourth title meant a lot to the team and our staff."

"I want to say thank you to Vera Nelson, my assistant and mentor," Whitnack said. "This was her last beach season in her role as an assistant and there would be no Sierra Beach without her.  She helped start the program and has been a huge part of what makes Sierra College Beach Volleyball special."