After so many years without the presumption of success, having expectations is a welcome change for the San Bernardino Valley College women’s volleyball team.
A state semifinalist last year, SBVC returns only two players but coach Robert Vansant is confident in the talent and depth of his incoming class.
“My coaching staff and I are very excited about this year’s recruiting class,” Vansant said. “They will complement our returners and bring a sense of joy and excitement to the court.”
The Wolverines are back-to-back champions of the Inland Empire Athletic Conference for the first time in the program’s history, and sophomores Destiny Allen (King High) and Rain Navarro (Fontana High) are back to hold down the front row.
“Both put in tremendous work in the spring, both in the weight room and on the court,” Vansant said. “They will be looked upon to anchor the front row both offensively and defensively. The experience they gained last season will make them the centerpiece to this young team.”
This season, 11 new players will step into a completely revitalized program.
“We filled the vacancies left by our graduating sophomores with well-rounded volleyball players in the classroom and on the court,” Vansant said.
Two-time all-Citrus Belt League first team selection Devi’arre Lucas (Redlands High) received interest from multiple schools at multiple levels and initially committed to Riverside City College. She will likely be the centerpiece of this year’s attack.
“Devi is an athletic, six-rotation pin that will bring excitement and power to Valley’s offense,” Vansant said. “She is a next level player who we are excited to have continuing her education and athletic talents at SBVC.”
Three players — outside hitters Audrey Gallacher and Katie Joiner, and middle blocker Ashlee Zimmer — from last year’s Rancho Cucamonga team that advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 semifinals lead the list of other first-year Wolverines.
“Audrey has the drive to be great,” Vansant said. “An ultimate team player that wants team success. She will bring excitement and will be a fan favorite by how hard she plays.”
Also joining the team this year are Ava Avila (Redlands High), Emersyn Ebel (Barstow High), Alyssa Kaferlein (Fontana High), Delilah Ramirez (Arlington High), and Venus Bush, Tamia Hardwick and Cielo Rodriguez from Moreno Valley High.
Vansant also has expanded his coaching staff with the addition of Steve Gazanniga.
A former collegiate player at Cal State Northridge, Gazanniga has coached at the high school and college levels, including a stint at Los Angeles Pierce College.
“Steve began as a junior college player and continued to play at the University of Northridge, so he knows what these student-athletes are going through,” Vansant said. “Steve is well respected in the coaching community and looked highly upon by his players. Steve will provide wisdom and guidance for our student-athletes.”
ARGENAL FINALIZES ASSISTANTS
New UC Riverside men’s basketball coach Gus Argenal has filled out his staff for the 2025-26 season.
Argenal has added Tim Bross, his former assistant at Cal State San Bernardino, as his lead assistant. Bross served as recruiting coordinator at CSUSB, signing 20 players in two years, including multiple all-CCAA honorees and the NCAA Division II West Region Tournament MVP.
Blake Wetherington, Reuben Williams and Matthew Musselman also were added. Wetherington coached at Virginia Tech staff in 2024 but began his career at Murray State, working with future NBA Rookie of the Year Ja Morant. Musselman is son of current USC head coach Eric Musselman.
BULLDOGS ANNOUNCE CLASS
The University of Redlands men’s basketball team will welcome in Jaiden Agbo (Rancho Christian High) among its next class of incoming players this fall.
Agbo, a 6-foot-2 all-Ivy League guard, averaged 16 points, five rebounds and two steals for Rancho Christian, last year’s Ivy League champion. He is joined by three other freshmen and two incoming transfers, 6-foot-4 guard Marcel Hayes (Cerritos College) and 6-foot-7 wing Derek Sangster (Princeton/UC Davis).
After making a historic run to the NCAA Tournament Elite 8 and finishing the season ranked No. 7 in the NCAA Division III poll, Redlands opens its season at the UC Santa Cruz Invitational in early November.
MCCARRON HONORED
Riverside City College’s Jim McCarron continues to make his mark on junior college track and field.
McCarron was named the California Community College Athletic Association men’s track and field coach of the year after leading the Tigers to their eighth 3C2A men’s state championship in May.
It is McCarron’s fifth state coach of the year award. He holds four in track and field and one in cross country in his 19 years at RCC.
ODDS & ENDS
The UC Riverside men’s soccer team begins its season with road games at Michigan State today and at Michigan on Sunday. The Highlanders play their first home match against Air Force on Monday, Sept. 1. … Cal State San Bernardino men’s basketball named Alex Fodor assistant coach. Fodor previously coached at CSU Northridge and advanced to the NIT last year. … SCIAC tennis champions Ella Brissett (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps) and Angie Zhou (Pomona-Pitzer) have advances to the next round of voting for the NCAA Woman of the Year in the fall, when the top 30 finalists (10 per NCAA division) will be announced. … RCC sophomore sprinter Deyton Ford (King High) has committed to Cal Poly Pomona.
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