WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Fresh off of the program's seventh CCCAA State championship won on Sunday, the accolades continue to roll in for the Ventura College women's basketball team. Today, Lisa Marie Sanchez was named first team WBCA Coaches' All-American while teammate Cynthia Hernandez was named Honorable Mention WBCA Coaches' All-American. Meanwhile head coach Ned Mircetic was named one of three finalists for the 2014 Russell Athletic/WBCA Junior/Community College National Coach of the Year.
Sanchez, who was named Honorable Mention WBCA All-American a year ago, is the fourth Pirate to earn first-team All-American honors (Marina Torres-Reyes, 1996, Courtney Young in 2004, Michelle Santizo in 2009) and is the first VC player to earn national recognition from the WBCA for two seasons. She was also named the CCCWBCA Sate co-Player of the Year and was the MVP of the State Championship.
Hernandez led the state in 3-point shooting, both in makes and percentage, and was one of the top 3-point shooters in the country, at any level. She also earned All-State recognition. Hernandez is the 11th player in program history to garner All-American accolades.
Voting for the WBCA All-American team took place before the state playoffs began, and was made by a committee composed of one representative from each of the nine geographical regions and a chairperson.
This is the third time Mircetic has been named a finalist for the national Coach of the Year Award (2008, 2009). He won the award in 2009 following VC's run to the State Final Four, a year in which he also coached the Pirate men to a Western State Conference title, as well. Mircetic also earned Western State Conference and California State Co-Coach of the Year honors this season.
The winner of the Pat Summitt National Coach of the Year Trophy will be announced during the fourth annual WBCA Awards Show on Monday, April 7, in the Omni Nashville Hotel's Broadway Ballroom. This event is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four® in Nashville, Tenn.
See WBCA Junior/Community College Coaches' All-American Press Release
See Russell Athletic/WBCA Junior/ Community College National Coach of the Year Press Release