It was a season to remember for the Pirate volleyball team in 2021. From their second Western State Conference title in three years to a playoff run to the Southern California Regional Finals, the first for VC since 2000. WSC Player of the Year Nevada Knowles earned another first for the Ventura program when she was named second-team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Knowles becomes the first AVCA All-American in program history.
Knowles, a freshman from Ventura High School, had 626 assists on the season, which is good for the fifth-best single-season mark in the rally scoring era. She ranked No. 18 in the state in sets, but her 162 kills was 46 more than any other setter in the Top-20 in the state. In fact, only three players in the Top-20 in sets also totaled over 100 kills during the year.
Knowles also produced a .337 hitting percentage on 326 total attacks during the year with 52 errors. Had she recorded 10 more attacks, she would have been ranked No. 16 in the state in that category. Of the Top-20 hitters in the state, only three totaled more than 50 assists on the year.
The Pirate All-American was also ranked No. 33 in the state in service aces with 45 and totaled 133 digs on the year, good for third on the team.
Knowles also earned first-team All-State honors from the California Community College Women's Volleyball Coaches Association, becoming the first Pirate since 2005 to earn that recognition.
See Complete AVCA Two-Year Colleges All-American List
See Complete CCCWVCA All-State List