This week in our Valley News collegiate volleyball notebook, we will recap opening weekend for our area alums playing at the smaller college levels.

Alumni Notes:

In this week’s alumni notes we focus on area alumni playing collegiately at the smaller four-year levels of college volleyball. Next week we’ll take a look at the mid-major level of division one.

Marlee Nunley, a 2019 graduate of Vista Murrieta, was part of an undefeated CCAA regular season and tournament championship team as a freshman at CSUSB which led to the Yotes’ first national title in program history. Last weekend the Yotes, ranked 19th in preseason AVCA division two polling and picked to finish third by CCAA coaches, hosted a loaded field which featured four other top 25 teams and a team receiving votes. Nunley recorded a total of 125 assists in 17 sets (7.35 per set) and guided the Yotes offense to a .293 team hitting percentage as they went a perfect 4-0 to start 2023.

Vista Murrieta graduate Marlee Nunley (4) helps No. 19 ranked CSUSB defeat third ranked MSU Denver in Yotes Showcase action in San Bernardino last weekend. Valley News/Courtesy: CSUSB Athletic Communications

Jameson Sanders, a 2022 graduate of Heritage, was the starting libero for Cal State LA as the Golden Eagles took last year’s CCAA regular season and tournament titles. They also won the West Region tournament and reached a national semifinal before falling. In 2023 the Golden Eagles were picked to finish first in preseason CCAA voting and ranked ninth in AVCA division two opening polls. However, in Yotes Classic action CSULA went just 1-3. Sanders appeared in 13 of a possible 16 sets on the weekend and averaged 2.62 digs per set to open her sophomore campaign. Also, on the CSULA roster are Ashlyn Beaver (Temecula Valley/Oregon State/CBU), and Rachel Lowe (Paloma Valley) who did not appear in a match last weekend.

Heritage graduate Jameson Sanders (4) celebrates a CSULA point on Thursday, Aug. 31, in the Yotes Showcase at Cal State San Bernardino. Valley News/Courtesy: Will G. McNeil

Paige Johnstone, a 2019 graduate of Vista Murrieta, completed her eligibility at CBU last fall and finished with 1,052 total digs (3.64 per set) for the Lancers. She transferred to Azusa Pacific University in the offseason and joined a Cougars program picked to finish fifth in PacWest play. They opened the season at last weekend’s Concordia Invitational and went 1-3. Johnstone appeared in all 13 sets and averaged 4.69 digs per set to start the season.

Sarah Wilson, a 2023 graduate of Great Oak, joined the Azusa Pacific program this season and averaged 1.85 kills per set for the Cougars to begin her collegiate career.

Maggie Nielsen, a 2019 graduate of Murrieta Valley, played in nine of a possible 13 sets for the Cougars and averaged 3.78 assists per set.

With 2023 Murrieta Valley graduate Grace Datil at the controls of their offense Emory-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida opened 2023 at the Bahama House Labor Day Classic where they went 3-1. Datil averaged 6.8 assists per set and guided the Eagles offense to a .178 hitting percentage.

Derryl Trujillo can be reached via email at socaltrekkie@gmail.com.

Derryl Trujillo

Derryl Trujillo has been a local sportswriter since 2018 and is the 2019 IEBCA Supporter of the Year award winner. He can be reached via email at socaltrekkie@gmail.com.