For the second straight year, the Pirate volleyball team has the Western State Conference North Division Libero of the Year. Freshman Leslie Perez earned the honor in voting by the conference coaches last month, while head coach Brad Lyans was named WSC North Co-Coach of the Year. Outside hitter Morgan Gallagher was named first-team All-WSC, as was middle hitter Brooklyn Wallet. Four other Pirates were named second team or honorable mention all-conference.
Perez, a freshman from Nordhoff High School in Ojai, led the WSC North in digs this past season with 353. She was second in digs per set at 5.19 and anchored the VC defense as the team won nine of their final 10 matches of the season.
A sophomore outside hitter, Gallagher has been a two-year stalwart for the Pirates' offensive attack. The Foothill Tech graduate had 237 kills on the year, good for second in the WSC North. Her average of 3.39 kills per set was fourth in the conference.
Wallet is a sophomore middle hitter from Buena High School. She led the conference in hitting percentage, hitting at a .342 clip with 191 kills on the year.
Sophomore outside hitter Raphaella Rosales and freshman setter Kassidy Wilson were both named second team All-WSC. Meanwhile, sophomore opposite Shantalle Ruiz and sophomore setter Gabby Boado received Honorable Mention All-WSC accolades.
For Lyans, this is his third WSC Coach of the Year Award in his seven seasons at the helm of the Pirates' ship.
Ventura finished the season with a 13-9 record, finishing second in the conference with an 8-2 mark. They won nine of their final 10 matches, and were the only second-place team in the state to not land in the post-season, just missing a playoff berth.
