San Jacinto College's Ribeiro named NJCAA All-American



San Jacinto College sophomore Ana Helena Ribeiro was named to the
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
Division I Volleyball All-American second team.
Photo credit: Jeannie Peng-Armao, San Jacinto College marketing,
public relations, and government affairs department.

PASADENA, TEXAS (December 10, 2014) San Jacinto College sophomore Ana Helena Ribeiro has been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I All-American second team, the organization announced this week.

Head Coach Sharon Nelson stated in a press release:

“Ana is a fantastic player and young lady,”  who just completed her 13^th year at the helm of the San Jacinto College volleyball program. “She has so many attributes for a life of success. She has perfected the art of balancing her academics with her athletic endeavors. Not only has she earned All-American honors two years in a row, but she will also earn academic honors later this Spring. She is a valuable asset to any program. To be recognized twice, nationally, for this award, is very well deserved. We are incredibly proud of her."


Ribeiro (Villa Nova de Gaia, Portugal / Escola Secundária António Sérgio), a middle blocker, averaged 12.15 kills and 0.72 blocks per set, while hitting .294, this season.

She was third on the squad in total blocks with 44. Ribeiro finished the year ranked as the second best student-athlete in the Region’s South Zone, and was named to the Region XIV all-conference first team.

For a complete list of the NJCAA Division I Volleyball All-Americans, visit the NJCAA website.

San Jacinto College finished the regular season ranked 13^th in the country with a 21-13 overall record.

San Jacinto College volleyball completes 2012 season with third place finish at NJCAA national tournament



The San Jacinto College volleyball team finished the
2012 season with a third place finish at the National
Junior College Athletic Association national tournament.
Photo credit: Kelley Flowers/San Jacinto College

WEST PLAINS, MO (November 19, 2012) The San Jacinto College volleyball team finished the 2012 season with a third place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) volleyball tournament held this week at the West Plains Civic Center in West Plains, Mo.

San Jac (36-3) entered the tournament as the fourth seed, and went 3-1 at the three-day national tournament. San Jacinto College knocked off 13^th-seed Casper College 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-19) and fifth-seed Tyler Junior College 3-0 (25-18, 25-13, 25-23) on the opening day, Thursday, Nov. 15. 

San Jac then fell to the top-seed, College of Southern Idaho, in four sets (25-23, 27-25, 14-25, 25-20) on Friday evening, before rebounding for a 3-1 win over No. 3 Iowa Western Community College (22-25, 28-26, 25-23, 25-22) Saturday afternoon.

It is the seventh-consecutive top-10 national finish under 11^th-year Head Coach Sharon Nelson. Last season, San Jacinto College finished fourth, and in 2010 it was the national runner-up. For more information about San Jacinto College volleyball, visit www.sanjacsports.com.

SJC's Richards heading to NJCAA Hall of Fame

By John Bechtle
San Jacinto College
(Via Press Release)

HOUSTON, TEXAS (July 11, 2011) Former San Jacinto College (SJC) star Dane Richards has been selected as a member of the class of 2011 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Soccer Hall of Fame.

The Jamaican born Richards netted 45 goals, a school record, over the course of the 2003 and 2004 seasons at San Jacinto College. In 2004, he was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Junior College Player of the Year, scoring 25 goals while leading his team to third place at the national tournament.

“I am honored and excited to be joining the Hall of Fame,” said Richards, now a midfielder with the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer (MLS). “When I came to San Jacinto College from Jamaica the summer before the 2003 season, I worked very hard to balance my school work and my playing career, and San Jac was a great place to begin my journey.

“Throughout my life, I have always tried to seize every opportunity in front of me and make the best of it, and San Jacinto College allowed me to get started in this game toward my goal of being a professional. I played for two great coaches, Ben Hunter and David Santesteban.

“To soon be a member of the NJCAA Hall of Fame is a proud moment for myself and my family. I give many thanks to those who gave me an opportunity to achieve.”

Richards was recruited to San Jacinto College by Hunter, who retired after the 2003 season. In 2004, Santesteban took over the program and discovered Richards, a true star player who scored 20 goals as a freshman. Together, Richards and Santesteban got the San Jacinto program back to the national tournament.

“When I think of Dane, I think of catching lightning in a bottle,” Santesteban said. “Every year in recruiting, you search for the next Dane Richards, and those players just don’t come around very often. Players like Dane are very hard to come by. He is truly a special player.”

After his two years at San Jacinto College, Richards moved on to Clemson University, where he led the Tigers to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I National Tournament Final Four in 2005. That season, he scored 11 goals and dealt eight assists.

Drafted by the Red Bulls in 2007, Richards has registered 17 goals and 23 assists through four plus seasons in the Big Apple. Richards has also, for several years, been a member of the Jamaican National Team. During the 2011 Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean Football (CONCACAF) Gold Cup, Richards had a pair of assists in four games for his home country.

Santesteban, who nominated Richards for the 2011 Hall of Fame class, is thrilled to see the former San Jacinto College star making a name for himself both in MLS and internationally.

“To get where Dane is, you have to be disciplined and avoid the distractions that can come with being a professional,” Santesteban said. “He has shown a great ability to do that. To know that the San Jacinto College men’s soccer program played a role in Dane’s development is a special moment. All of us are proud of who he is as a person and the type of soccer player he has become.”

Richards is one of eight players and a coach to be inducted into the NJCAA Soccer Hall of Fame class of 2011. The nine inductees will be honored at a banquet in November.

San Jacinto College Volleyball Advances To NJCAA Championship Match

(Sophomore setter Brittany Weiler sets the ball during San Jac’s National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament match against Western Wyoming College, Friday night. Photo courtsey of Amanda L. Booren, San Jacinto College marketing department.)

WEST PLAINS, MUSSOURI) With a straight-set win over Western Wyoming College Friday night, the San Jacinto College volleyball team advances to the championship match of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) volleyball tournament.

Third seed San Jac defeated No. 2 Western Wyoming College 25-21, 25-21, 25-21 to advance to the national title match against Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC). Fourth-ranked WNCC defeated No. 8 Salt Lake City Community College in four sets to advance to Saturday’s championship game.

With the win, SJC moves to 29-9 overall on the season. San Jac last won the volleyball national title in 1987. The highest national finish under Head Coach Sharon Nelson is fifth, in 2008.

San Jac is led by sophomore Alyssa Dibbern (Bay City / Bay City HS) who ranks 19th in the nation with 404 kills. She was named the Region XIV player of the year, and is a first-team all-conference selection. Dibbern also leads the team in blocks with 116 total. Leading the offense is first-year setter Chelsey Harding (Houston / Cypress Springs HS). She ranks in the top 25 in assists per set with an 8.48 average.

The 2010 NJCAA volleyball national championship concludes on Saturday at the Civic Center in West Plains, Mo. Complete tournament information, including a full bracket, live video streaming, and tournament schedule can be found at www.njcaavbd1.com

San jacinto College Has Six Named To All-Conference Volleyball Team

(Sophomore middle blocker Alyssa Dibbern is a Region XIV first-team all-conference selection, and was also named the league’s player of the year. Photo by Jeannie Peng-Armao, San Jacinto College marketing department.)

PASADENA, TEXAS (November 14, 2010) As the third-ranked San Jacinto College volleyball team prepares for it’s sixth-straight trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament, six players have been named to the All-Region XIV conference team, as voted by the league coaches. In addition, San Jac nabbed the player, setter, newcomer, and coach of the year honors.

Sophomores Alyssa Dibbern (Bay City / Bay City HS), Candace Soares (Mililani Hawaii / Mililani HS), and Brittany Weiler (Deer Park / Deer Park HS), and freshman Chelsey Harding (Houston / Cypress Springs HS) earned a spot on the Region XIV first team, while sophomores Amanda Deem (Pearland / Pearland HS) and Lauren Curley (Corona, Calif. / Corona HS) were named to the second team.

“It’s always a great honor to see our players recognized by the conference,” said ninth-year Head Coach Sharon Nelson, who was named the league’s coach of the year. “They work hard every day on the court and in the classroom, and this is a true testament to their dedication to the game and to San Jacinto College.”

In addition to earning first-team honors, Dibbern is also the league’s player of the year. She led the squad in kills per set at 3.51, a mark that is also 19th in the nation. She was a two-time conference player of the week selection this season, helping San Jac to a perfect 10-0 conference record. She also averages over one block per set. Dibbern was last year’s Region XIV freshman and offensive player of the year.

Soares finished the regular season second on the team in kills per set with a 3.41 average, good for 23rd in the nation. She was also one of San Jac’s top defenders, hitting the court for 3.87 digs per set, second on the team behind the libero, Deem. Soares earned NJCAA player of the week honors for the week of Sept. 6, 2010.

Weiler was named the league’s newcomer of the year. She transferred from Lamar University and split time at setter and libero. Her 3.01 assists per set was second on the team and she averaged 3.68 digs per set. She was twice selected as the conference player of the week this season – once as setter, and once as libero.

Harding led the San Jac offense, averaging 8.48 assists per set (24th in the nation), and was rewarded as the conference setter of the year. She was a conference setter of the week selection for the week of Sept. 27, 2010.

Deem led the team in digs, having started at libero most of the season. Her 6.06 digs per set is seventh in the nation. She was the conference libero of the week for the week of Oct. 25, 2010.

Curley averaged 1.61 kills per set and just under one block per set for San Jac this season. She was a league player of the week for the week of Sept. 27, 2010.

Nelson owns an overall record of 261-95 (.733) in nine seasons at San Jacinto College. San Jac finished the regular season with a 26-9 overall record, and is returning to the national championship for the sixth-straight year. The NJCAA national championship is Nov. 18-20 in West Plains, Mo.

San Jac Baseball Finishes 2010 Season As National Runner Up

Sophomore Riley Hornback swings for a double in the second inning of the 2010 Alpine Bank National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) JUCO World Series championship game Saturday. Photo courtesy of Amanda L. Booren, San Jacinto College marketing department.

GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO (June 6, 2010) The top-ranked San Jacinto College (SJC) baseball team held on to a 4-3 lead late in the national championship game before No. 5 Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) scored two runs in the eighth inning to clinch the title Saturday night at the 2010 Alpine Bank National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) JUCO World Series at Suplizio Field.

Iowa Western got on the board early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning off San Jac starter Chris McKenzie (Framingham, Mass. / Marian HS). San Jac bounced back in the second, when Sweeny’s Riley Hornback doubled to left field and advanced to third on an error. Hornback scored on the next play to get San Jac on the board.

SJC scored three more runs in the third inning to take a 4-3 lead. Freshman Jarrett Higgins (Bellaire / Bellaire HS) tripled to third, his fourth triple of the season, and designated hitter Will Fontnow (Vidor / Vidor HS) followed with a single, bringing Higgins home. Ryan Hornback walked on the next at bat, advancing Fontnow to second, and Deric Hawkins would single in both runs.

Heading in to the eighth inning, San Jac held its 4-3 lead, but a triple by Iowa Western allowed put the tying run in scoring position. IWCC tied the game on a fielder’s choice, and added the go-ahead run off a wild pitch for the final 5-4 score.

“I’m really proud of this group,” said San Jac Head Coach Tom Arrington. “They worked hard all year, and gave it everything they had.”

San Jac scored its four runs on 10 hits with two errors. Riley Hornback went 3-of-4, scoring one run, and Fontnow went 2-of-5 with one RBI, also scoring one run.

Iowa Western got its 5 runs on 9 hits, also committing two errors.

San Jacinto College (52-12) finishes the 2010 season as the national runner up, the third second-place finish for San Jac under Arrington (2003, 2004, 2010), who completes his 10th year with the program. Riley and Ryan Hornback were named to the all-tournament team, as were pitchers Sean Nolin (Seaford, New York / Seaford HS) and Miguel Peña (La Joya / La Joya HS). Nolin also earned the outstanding pitcher of the tournament award.

This was the 21st trip to the JUCO World Series for San Jacinto College, the 12th national championship game, and the seventh national runner-up.

San Jac volleyball rebounds on second day of NJCAA national tournament

Freshman Amanda Deem hit the court for a team-high 18 digs in San Jac’s 3-2 win over Northwest College, Friday, at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) volleyball national championship. (Photo courtesy of Amanda L. Booren, San Jacinto College marketing department.)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA (November 20, 2009) On the second day of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) volleyball tournament, San Jacinto College rebounded from a first-round loss with a straight-set win over Wallace State, and 3-2 victory over Northwest College, Friday, at the Mid-America Center.

In the first match of the day, San Jac (32-8) pulled out an easy win against 15th-seed Wallace State 25-20, 25-18, 25-19. Sophomore Christie Dorch (Friendswood / Friendswood HS) and freshman Alyssa Dibbern (Bay City / Bay City HS) led San Jac with 10 kills each. Dibbern hit a team-high .526 and also had a solo block and one block assist. Libero Amanda Deem (Pearland / Pearland HS) was the team’s dig leader with 15.

As a team, SJC hit .294 to Wallace State’s .105. Both teams had six blocks, while San Jac took the edge in kills 42-32.

In San Jac’s second match of the day, SJC defeated 11th-seed Northwest College (NWC) 3-2 (25-22, 25-17, 17-25, 21-25, 15-13). Four players recorded double-digit kills for San Jac, including Dorch and Dibbern with 15 apiece. Dorch also added a team-high 18 digs for her second double-double of the tournament. Sophomore Brittney Wood (Kingwood / Kingwood HS) had three solo blocks.

As a team, San Jac hit .262 to NWC’s .206, and out-dug Northwest 86-85.

San Jac will play for ninth place on Saturday at noon against Hutchinson Community College (Kan.).

SJC softball team dedicate Fall season to friend with cancer

HOUSTON, TEXAS (September 22, 2009) The San Jacinto College (SJC) softball team is trading in their blue and white jerseys for pink Team Gabby T-shirts this Fall in honor of Gabby Romero, their friend who is battling cancer.

Romero, 17, was diagnosed with late stage renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) in June 2008. After enduring surgery, experimental drugs and chemotherapy for more than a year, Romero is now in hospice care. Family and friends are by her side, including best friend Nicole Andrade, who met Romero when the two played softball together at Dobie High School. Up until her diagnosis, Romero was a vivacious teenager who kept a busy schedule as a member of both the school’s softball and volleyball teams.

“We grew a bond really fast,” Andrade said, who now plays for the San Jacinto College softball team. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand why this is happening, but I know that I’m very lucky to have her in my life. I know people always say their parents are their heroes, but Gabby is mine.”

Through Andrade, the SJC softball team and Head Coach Kelly Saenz were recently introduced to Romero during a weekly home church service. After noticing many of her supporters wearing T-shirts in bright pink, Romero's favorite color, the team decided to hang up their jerseys and join Team Gabby.

“We’re a community college that’s here to help the community, and Gabby is a part of it,” Saenz said. “She’s a fellow softball player, and we consider her a part of our team.”

Playing the sport that brought them together is proving to be difficult, Andrade admits. However, she visits Romero’s home almost daily and receives some sound advice from her pal.

“She enjoys talking to me about my future,” Andrade said. “She encourages me to further my education, make my life a good one, and to keep playing softball. Gabby sends a message through her battle with cancer, and that is to live life to its fullest.”

Dibbern, Ivanova nab Region XIV player of the week honors

PASADENA, TEXAS (September 21, 2009) San Jacinto College freshmen Alyssa Dibbern and Nadejda Ivanova have been named the Region XIV player and setter of the week, respectively, for the week of Sept. 14 – 20, 2009.

Dibbern, a 6-3 hitter / middle blocker from Bay City (Bay City High School), was the North Central Texas Invitational Most Valuable Player this past weekend, guiding San Jac to six-straight wins and the tournament title. SJC also defeated Temple College last Monday and Galveston College on Wednesday to open conference play. In the week’s eight matches she tallied 60 kills on 116 swings with only 19 errors, hitting .394. She added 9.5 blocks and 12 aces for the week.

Ivanova was the league’s top setter averaging just under 11 assists per game in San Jac’s eight wins last week. Offensively, the 5-7 setter from Chicago (Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center) added seven kills with one error on 17 attempts, hitting .352. She also served up four aces and hit the floor for 42 digs (2.21 per game).

The eight wins last week gives 10th-ranked San Jacinto College a 17-4 overall record, 1-0 in conference play. San Jac returns home this week to face Lee College on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. All volleyball home games are played on the San Jacinto College Central campus, located at 8060 Spencer Highway in Pasadena.