VC welcomes seven newcomers to volleyball team

The Victoria College Pirates started fall workouts this week with seven new faces expected to make big impacts on the team when the season begins in the spring.

The Pirates return five players from last season's team that finished 7-17 overall and 0-9 in Region XIV in the Victoria College's first season as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association. The newcomers include a pair of transfers – Makenzie Gerlach from New Mexico Junior College and Nicole Rodriguez from Laredo College. Incoming freshman are Victoria West's Kia  Willborn, Harlingen South's Mikela Mireles and Zoe Garcia, Haltom's Alexandria Baker-Cooper and Mission Veterans Memorial's Isabela Dominguez.

Willborn, a 5-foot-4 setter, was the Setter of the Year last season in District 30-5A. She compiled 590 assists, 253 digs and 102 service aces.

"Kia is one of the smartest setters I've seen play," Moore said. "I've seen her play for many years. She's just very clean with her sets."

Mireles, a 5-10 outside hitter, was named the Valley Morning News' All-Star Volleyball Team Most Valuable Player as a junior and senior. She had 724 kills, 540 digs, 41 service aces and 36 blocks last season.

"Mikela is a very strong hitter, and I see her doing some great things for Victoria College the next two years," Moore said. "She loves the game. She wants to play every chance she gets."

Rodriguez, a 5-11 middle blocker, played in 19 matches last year for Laredo College, and had 40 kills and 25 blocks for the Palominos. Rodriguez was named to the McAllen Monitor's All-Area second team after posting 411 kills, 76 solo blocks and 33 service aces her senior year.

"We recruited Nicole heavily last year and she ended up choosing Laredo College," Moore said. "She can also play outside hitter. She brings very good blocking skills to the table. We have stepped up our blocking game big time this year, and Nicole is a big part of that."

Gerlach, a 5-8 outside hitter, saw action in 16 matches last season at New Mexico Junior College, and recorded 81 kills and 62 digs. She earned honorable mention on the Texas Sports Writers Association Class 5A all-state team after her season at Mission Veterans Memorial.

"Makenzie is short for a hitter, but that doesn't deter me at all," Moore said. "She's a very powerful hitter and a very smart player. If you can jump and hit and do what we're asking, height is not a problem for us."

Dominguez, a 5-foot defensive specialist, was named to the Texas Sports Writers Association all-state second team after ranking among the national leaders in digs last season with 1,157. 

Garcia, a 5-foot defensive specialist, had 1,064 digs along with 71 assists and 27 service aces her senior year. Garcia was a first-team selection on the Valley Morning Star's 2019 All-Star Volleyball Team.

"I believe we have two of the best defensive players from the Valley in Isabela and Zoe," Moore said. "Both of them bring a lot of energy to the team. They work hard and they have a grit about them."

Baker-Cooper, a 5-10 setter, was a first-team All-District 3-6A selection last season.

"Lexi is very versatile," Moore said. "She can set for us, she can play the right and outside. We envision using her in many different places."

Moore said he is impressed with the team chemistry after just a few days of practice.

"We meshed so quickly," Moore said. "We met every other week online through WebEx over the summer. The girls created a bond before they even got here. So it's something we will continue in the future."