The VC women's basketball team has nine alumnae who are planning on transferring to four-year universities in the fall, with four planning to continue their basketball careers. This group adds to the long line of four-year transfers during the 30-year tenure of head coach Ned Mircetic. Since 1990-91, 164 Pirate alumnae have transferred to continue their education with 90 continuing their basketball careers at the four-year level.
All-State point guard Talia Taufaasau has signed with NCAA Div. I Cal State Northridge. The Canyon High School product from Santa Clarita became just the 11th player in program history to earn CCCWBCA All-State recognition for two years. The sophomore was also named Most Valuable Player in three tournaments during the season and earned her second straight first team All-Western State Conference award. She was the Pirates' leading scorer this past season and finished her career with 926 points, good for 10th all-time at VC. Taufaasau becomes the 28th Pirate to transfer to an NCAA Division I school, the seventh since 2014.
All-WSC forward Madison Kast has signed with NCAA Division II powerhouse West Texas A & M University in Canyon, TX. The transfer who prepped at Redwood High School was second on the team in scoring in 2019-20 with a 12.1 average, and first for VC in conference games at 14.4 points per outing. She also averaged nearly six rebounds per contest in earning first team All-WSC honors. West Texas A & M competes in the Lone Star Conference. They were 26-5 last season and ranked No. 25 in the country, headed to the NCAA Division II Regionals when the post-season was cancelled in March.
Two-year standout and All-WSC honoree LaDaesha Merriweather has signed with NAIA University of Antelope Valley in Lancaster. The Golden Valley High School graduate from Santa Clarita became one of the most prolific rebounders in VC program history. The 5-foot-8 forward finished her career with 601 career boards, good for sixth on the all-time list. If not for the cancellation of the state tournament, she likely would have climbed to fourth with one more game. She also finished eighth in rebound average for her career, grabbing 9.5 caroms per game. The Pioneers were 24-4 a year ago, winning the Cal Pac Conference Tournament and advancing to the NAIA Division II National Tournament before the season ended prematurely.
Meanwhile, third-year sophomore Nikki Puga was accepted to Cal State Maritime University in Vallejo. Puga was an Academic All-State selection her first season, and was the Pirates' leading scorer her second until a knee injury sidelined her early in the season. The 5-foot-4 guard from Camarillo High School returned in 2019-20 to play a valuable part of the Pirates' success, advancing to the program's state-record 18th Elite Eight. Cal Maritime is an NAIA school playing in the Cal Pac Conference.
Six other Pirates will be continuing their academic studies at four-year school in the fall. Academic All-State honoree Cameran Bahnsen, who was unable to compete in 2019-20 due to injuries, received a scholarship from the Ventura College Foundation and will continue her studies at UC Santa Barbara. Meanwhile, third-year sophomore Alaina Garcia, also Academic All-State as a freshman, will continue her studies at Cal State Northridge. Sophomore Academic All-State award winner Emma Larson has chosen Boise State University as her next academic locale. Sophomore Cece Quintino, another Academic All-State award winner, will persue her pre-med major at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Also, Pirate alumna Colleen Clow, who played for the Pirates in 2018-19 and earned Academic All-State distinction, was also awarded a VC Foundation Scholarship and plans to transfer to Boise State in the fall.