Adriana Dorn anchored Ripon’s dominant girls volleyball season, while Janessa Barnes and Gianna Ramos led historic campaigns for the Sierra flag football and water polo programs, respectively.
They’re among the Manteca Bulletin’s female MVP honorees for the fall season.
Manteca senior Emma Ngo repeats as Tennis Player of the Year, East Union junior Jessica Ingalls is Golfer of the Year and Sierra freshman Anna Dittman earned Cross Country Runner of the Year.
Dorn and the Indians marched their way to a 30-3 finish, going undefeated for a second-straight Trans-Valley League championship before capturing its seventh all-time Sac-Joaquin Section title. Ripon’s 6-foot-1 outside hitter was named the league’s MVP.
Ripon was so dominant throughout the season that it only played in two best-of-five matches that were not sweeps — a five-game win over Division I Pitman (Dorn had a season-high 29 kills), and a surprising four-gamer against TVL foe Orestimba. That was the only set dropped in TVL play, an impressive feat considering that the league includes two-time reigning state champion Ripon Christian and eventual Division IV state finalist Hilmar.
The Indians overpowered the competition in the SJS Division IV playoffs, sweeping all four opponents including a 35-6 Liberty Ranch team in the final round, 25-13, 25-13, 25-21.
The success only made things more difficult for them in the California Interscholastic Federation Northern Regionals, however. “Competitive equity” elevated Ripon to the competitive Division III bracket, and it was given a No. 12 seed. That paired the Indians with battle-tested No. 5 seed Aragon, a Division II school out of the Central Coast Section. Aragon won 25-16, 25-20, 25-23 and ended as NorCal runner-up.
Although the Dons swept, they still had no answer for Dorn, who had a match-high 19 kills with a 41.3 kill percentage to go with three service aces.
Ripon’s three losses on the season came against upper-division schools, including Sacramento private school St. Francis and Colorado state champion Valor Christian.
For the season, Dorn was one of the state’s most efficient hitters with a 0.385 hitting percentage and 456 kills, good for the second and fifth highest in the SJS, respectively. Her 105 aces are third most.
Here is the rest of the All-Area volleyball team as well as the top athletes in other fall sports:
Outside Hitter of the Year
Paige Van Hofwegen, Ripon Christian, Jr.: Enjoyed a breakthrough season as a prolific all-around contributor, firing 394 kills to go with 54 aces, 31 blocks and 420 digs in leading Ripon Christian to the second round of the NorCal playoffs.
Middle Blocker of the Year
Brynn Bohn, Ripon Christian, Jr.: One of the few holdovers from the Knights’ Division III state championship team, the 6-3 Bohn stepped up in a bigger role and compiled 243 kills, 46 blocks and 36 aces.
Setter of the Year
Katelyn Bogetti, Ripon, Sr.: After playing behind two standout seniors last year, Bogetti shined in her opportunity to orchestrate the area’s best attack, amassing 868 assists.
Libero of the Year
Nicole Ayala, Manteca, Sr.: Manteca’s third-year libero recorded 4.8 digs per set in Valley Oak League play.
First team: OH Elizabeth Andrade, Lathrop, Sr.; Alanna Blanco, Ripon Christian, Jr.; DS Anneke Dyt, Ripon Christian, Sr.; RS Jorie Eskes, Ripon, So.; OH Delicia Kivalu-Ahio, Sierra, Fr.; OH/MB Hannah Threet, Sierra, So.
Second team: DS Ellis Denny, Sierra, Jr.; OH/S Mertiana Luani, Ripon, Sr.; OH Shayla McKeon, Ripon, Sr.; OH Milyn Morales, River Islands, Jr.; S Ayden Petroff, Lathrop, Jr.; OH Sophia Threet, Sierra, Sr.
FLAG FOOTBALL MVP
Janessa Barnes, Sierra, Jr.
The Timberwolves (19-6) claimed the first-ever VOL flag football championship, and Barnes was a big reason why.
The league MVP was among the most productive players in the SJS on both sides of scrimmage, finishing with the sixth most receiving yards (2,209), eighth most points (254), ninth most total touchdowns (40) and third most interceptions (23). Her 178 receptions and the most in the area.
Barnes had four four-touchdown performances, which include Sierra’s first playoff victory in which garnered season-highs in catches (12) and receiving yards (199). She even had four interceptions in a shutout of rival Manteca, and another three against Western Athletic Conference champion Lathrop. Three of her touchdowns are pick-sixes.
Offensive Player of the Year
Caliyah Lopez, East Union, Jr.: A two-way standout, Lopez powered the Lancers’ offense with her speed and elusiveness. The running back/receiver caught 130 passes for 1,454 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 368 yards and two scores.
Defensive Player of the Year
Taylor Zalunardo, Sierra, Sr.: Zalunardo holds multiple offers from four-year universities with flag football programs. She ranked fourth in the SJS with 172 tackles and also led her team with 20 pass breakups.
Offense: WR Faith Allen, Lathrop, So.; C Ava Barrera, East Union, Jr.; QB Luz De Luna, Lathrop, Jr.; QB Julianna Gaspar, East Union, So.; WR Jaleiyah Ray, Lathrop, So.; WR Zoe Sutton, Sierra, So.; QB Tessa Zalunardo, Sierra, Fr.
Defense: LB Faith Butler, Lathrop, Jr.; DB Heiddy Camacho, Lathrop, Jr.; LB Margeil Garcia, Sierra, Jr.; S Maitland Kohoutek, Sierra, Jr.; LB Dayanna Martinez, Lathrop, Jr.; DB Kaylee Mejia, East Union, Sr.; DB Kalaja Reese, Manteca Sr.
WATER POLO MVP
Gianna Ramos, Sierra, Sr.
Ramos spearheaded the Timberwolves’ charge to their first VOL championship and deepest postseason run. Sierra went undefeated in 10 league games, finishing 21-9 overall
The hard-working center goes out as Sierra’s single-season record holder with 126 goals scored. She scored 11 of them on 12 attempts in a 14-8 victory in the SJS Division III playoffs, as the T’wolves advanced to the semifinal round for the first time.
TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Emma Ngo, Manteca, Sr.
Ngo qualified for the SJS Division II Individual Tournament for a third-straight year, advancing to the doubles semifinals for the second time.
Last year, she earned a section berth as a singles player after claiming the VOL championship. She was part of the league titlist doubles tandem as a sophomore.
Ngo hoped to make it three consecutive titles when teaming up with Shreya Raman for the league doubles tournament. The two Buffaloes finished as runners-up. In the SJS tourney, Ngo and Raman lost to eventual two-time champion Ariana Kim and Emily Wong of Rodriguez, 4-6, 3-6.
Jessica Ingalls, East Union, Jr.
The only local golfer to advance to the SJS Masters Tournament had a strong showing at The Reserve at Spanos Park, placing 37th out of 105 with a 12-over 84.
Ingalls qualified as the fifth individual qualifier out of the SJS Division III Tournament at Pheasant Run Golf Club, where turned in an 89.
Team: Emily Camara, Manteca, Jr.; Ariana Pale, East Union, So.; Kendall Perry, East Union; Sienna Pimentel, Ripon, Sr.; Cameron Seefeldt, Ripon, Fr.; Julia Van Groningen, Ripon Christian, Sr.
CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR
Anna Dittman, Sierra, Fr. One of the area’s youngest harriers was also consistently the best.
Dittman ended the season in the SJS Masters Meet, placing 23rd in Division III. She was the only female runner from the area to clock a sub-21-minute time at 20:56.0.
Dittman earned all-league honors with a fourth-place finish in the VOL Championships. She then took 11th in the SJS Sub-Section Division III race.
Team: Serena Dittman, Sierra, Sr.; Mallory Govia, Ripon, Sr.; Haley Hill, Sierra, Sr.; Jacqueline Pena Santillan, Lathrop, Jr.; Monse Saavedra, Sierra, Jr.; Ashlyn Springer, Sierra, Sr.
