Panola College honored five outstanding sophomore volleyball players at the conclusion of the Tri-Match on Saturday, Oct. 15 at the A.J. Johnson Gym.
"We honor our five sophomores and their families for the heart, dedication, and time they have devoted to Panola College and our volleyball team," said Don Clinton, Athletic Director.
Cyrani Butler
Our first sophomore is Cyrani Butler, a defensive specialist from Coral Gables, Florida and graduate of West Broward High School. Butler has appeared in 29 sets, tallying 23 digs and 7 service aces. Just this morning, she led the team with 4 service aces in the victory against Mountainview College. Cyrani is currently majoring in communications and is set to graduate from Panola College this spring before continuing her education at a university. While there, she plans to major in Kinesiology with plans of becoming a publicist in her future. She is escorted by her mom, Ms. Nicole Smith and grandma, Ms. Patricia Smith, also lovingly known as "Grandma Pat" by our team. Please put your hands together for #4, Cyrani Butler!
Victoria Baptist Santos
Our second sophomore is Victoria Baptista Santos from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Baptista has played a crucial role for Panola Volleyball as a 6-rotation outside hitter since her freshman year, appearing in 63 matches over the past 2 seasons. She was named Honorable Mention All-Conference her freshman season at PC, in which she finished with 187 kills, 385 digs, and 59 total blocks. This year, she has taken her offense to a new level, already tallying 193 kills for 2.10 per set, and finishing with 9 or more kills in 12 matches this season. Defensively, Victoria has continued to impress as a sophomore currently ranking 3rd on the team in digs per set and 4th in blocks per set.
Baptista is currently majoring in Business with plans to continue her education and playing career at a university where she will major in economics after her graduation from Panola this May. Victoria is escorted by her American parents who have done an awesome job providing her with a family away from home, Mrs. Kharla and Mr. Jeff Sowells. Please put your hands together for #9, Victoria Baptista Santos.
Morgan Currie
Our third sophomore is Morgan Currie, a libero/DS from Rouse High School in Leander, TX. Currie has appeared in 62 total matches, anchoring our floor defense as libero for the past two years. As a freshman, her 4.47 digs per set, 594 total digs and 24 service aces earned her 1st Team All- Conference recognition as well as the prestigious "Libero of the Year" superlative for Region XIV-North. As a sophomore, Morgan is averaging 4.12 digs per set and is coming off of an impressive stretch where she posted 15 or more digs in 6 of the last 10 matches, including three 20+ dig performances. After graduation from Panola this May, Morgan will continue her playing career and education at a university where she plans to major in Architecture with dreams of becoming an architect or owning her own business one day. Morgan is escorted by her mother and stepdad, Mrs. Mynde Kessler and Mr. James Kessler, and stepmom Mrs. Kayla Sanders. Please put your hands together for #1, Morgan Currie!
Rachel Henderson
Our fourth sophomore is Rachel Henderson, a middle blocker from North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, TX. Rachel made her physical presence at the net early playing in a starting role as a freshman at right side. Last year she was third on the team in kills with 1.88 per set and third on the team in blocks with 1.02, earning Honorable Mention All-Conference. This year she has expanded her role offensively, currently 2nd on the team averaging 2.29 kills per set for a .343 hitting clip, and leading the team with 1.13 blocks per set. She reached her season high of 13 kills twice now, both in huge 5-game wins on the road at Navarro and Tyler. Rachel is currently majoring in Kinesiology with coaching aspirations, and plans to pursue her playing career and education at a university upon graduating from Panola this spring. Rachel is being escorted by Panola College Athletic Director, Don Clinton, and Panola College Basketball Player, Devyn Wilson. Please put your hands together for #8, Rachel Henderson!
Ana Carolina Oliveira
Our final sophomore is Ana Carolina Oliveira, an outside hitter from Sao Paulo, Brazil. A crucial component to Panola's success the past two years, Ana appeared in all 39 matches as a 6-rotation outsider hitter before expanding her role to all include setter for the 2015 Regional Tournament after an injury sidelined the team's starting setter. She was 2nd on the team in kills that year with 829 on the season, also finishing with 202 assists, 41 service aces, 39 blocks and 374 total digs. Her contributions earned her 2nd Team All-Conference honors as a freshman, followed by Region XIV All-Tournament honors highlighted by a gutsy performance that spearheaded the inspiring comeback down 14-10 in game 5 against Wharton County in the opening round. This year, she leads the team in kills per set with 2.33 on an impressive .336 hitting clip. She has also contributed 31 services aces and 300 total digs in an all-around effort to lead her team this year, highlighted by a Most Valuable Player weekend at the Lee College Invitational in Baytown. Majoring in general studies and graduating from Panola in May, Ana will continue her playing career and education in Kinesiology at a school yet to be decided.
Ana is being escorted by her volleyball mom, Mrs. Andrea Harris, her volleyball mini-me, Amber Harris, and former 2-time Panola College Volleyball All-American, Josie Santos. Please put your hands together for #11, Ana Oliveira!
"This year's sophomore class has taken the program to new heights, earning national recognition defeating perennial powerhouses: Blinn College, TJC, Central Florida, San Jacinto, Miami Dade, Missouri State-West Plains and Iowa Western throughout their Panola career. Together, they have amassed a total record of 57-11, and it's through their hard work and dedication that PC volleyball is currently ranked #1 in the country. Please put your hands together for this outstanding group of sophomores and the accomplishments they have achieved as a team as we wish them the best of luck the rest of this year and beyond," said Amber McCray, Head Coach.