2021 All-CCAA Volleyball Team
Some very familiar names highlighted the 2021 All-CCAA Volleyball Awards, led by Cal State San Bernardino's Alexis Cardoza capturing her third straight CCAA Player of the Year award. Her coach, Kim Cherniss, was voted the Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, and nine more student-athletes were repeat selections on the All-CCAA first or second teams.
Alexis Cardoza continued to add to her legendary career with her third CCAA Player of the Year selection. The senior outside hitter paced the conference in total kills (357) and kills per set (3.88) while ranking among the nation's leaders in both categories. The 2019 AVCA National Player of the Year registered double-figure kills in 23 of 26 matches, and she added 12 double-doubles. Cardoza also earned three CCAA Player of the Week selections in 2021 while leading the Yotes to their fifth straight CCAA regular season championship.
Cal State San Bernardino's Kim Cherniss collected her ninth career CCAA Coach of the Year honors, but this was just the second time she has won in back-to-back seasons. Cherniss guided the Yotes to a perfect 18-0 record in CCAA play and the No. 2 ranking in the country. Cal State San Bernardino swept through league play for the second straight season to extend its winning streak to 47 consecutive matches against CCAA opponents, including postseason play. The Yotes ranked sixth in the country with a .279 hitting percentage and 17th with 14.07 kills per set.
Makena Overbey gave Cal State San Bernardino another special award as the junior was voted the 2021 Libero of the Year. Overbey averaged 4.17 digs per set for the Yotes, including putting up a season-best 31 in a win over the No. 2 ranked team in the region, Western Washington. Overbey added 12 service aces and 41 assists.
Cal Poly Pomona, which finished second to Cal State San Bernardino in the standings, had a pair of special award winners. Kira Zimmerman was voted Setter of the Year, and Jazmyn Wheeler was selected as the Newcomer of the Year.
Zimmerman finished second in the conference with 10.30 assists and 0.47 service aces per set. The 2018 AVCA honorable mention All-American's passing helped the Broncos lead the CCAA and rank fourth in the country with a .288 hitting percentage. Zimmerman had nine matches with 40 or more assists, including four straight performances with 50 or more assists late in the season.
Wheeler made an immediate impact in her first season for Cal Poly Pomona after joining the Broncos from Scottsdale Community College. The sophomore middle blocker averaged 2.58 kills per set, and she put down double-digit kills in 13 matches. She finished the regular season ranked 15th in the CCAA with a .263 hitting percentage. Wheeler also helped Cal Poly Pomona go from the seventh pick in the CCAA preseason coaches' poll to a first-round bye in the CCAA Volleyball Tournament.
Cal State LA's Emily Elliott earned the remaining special honor as she was voted the 2021 CCAA Freshman of the Year. Elliott ranked fourth in the conference with 3.54 kills per set, and she was fifth with 3.91 points. The right-side hitter registered 19 matches with double figures in kills, including a 30-point outing against Drury.
In addition, the five student-athletes were all placed on the all-conference team. Wheeler, Cardoza, and Zimmerman were voted to the first team, while Elliott and Overbey collected second team honors. These were the third career All-CCAA first or second team selections for Zimmerman and Cardoza.
The coaches also voted Cal State LA's Karla Santos to the All-CCAA first team for the fourth time in her career. The 2017 CCAA Freshman of the Year has put up more than 320 kills per season, and she has over 1,400 kills in her career. Santos was joined as a repeat selection on the All-CCAA first or second team by Jessica Haynie (SFSU), Drew Morris (SFSU), Trinity Barr (SFSU), Jazminn Parrish (CPP), Jenn Trephan (SSU), and Makaela Keeve (Chico).
To see the complete 2021 All-CCAA Volleyball Team, click here.
Cal State San Bernardino led the conference with five selections to the All-CCAA first or second teams. Cal Poly Pomona placed the most student-athletes on the list overall. Three Broncos earned first team, one was named to the second team, and two collected honorable mentions.
The CCAA Volleyball Tournament will begin on Thursday, Nov. 18, at Coussoulis Arena on the campus of Cal State San Bernardino. Tickets are available now at
GoCCAA.org/Tickets. For more
information on the tournament, click here.
| 2021 CCAA Volleyball All-Conference Teams |
| Player of the Year |
Alexis Cardoza, Cal State San Bernardino |
| Libero of the Year |
Makena Overbey, Cal State San Bernardino |
| Setter of the Year |
Kira Zimmerman, Cal Poly Pomona |
| Newcomer of the Year |
Jazmyn Wheeler, Cal Poly Pomona |
| Freshman of the Year |
Emily Elliott, Cal State LA |
| Coach of the Year |
Kim Cherniss, Cal State San Bernardino |
| All-CCAA First Team |
| Name |
Yr. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Trinity Barr |
So. |
OPP |
San Francisco State |
Woodland |
| Alexis Cardoza |
Sr. |
OH |
Cal State San Bernardino |
Chino Hills |
| Kassy Doering |
Sr. |
MB |
Cal State San Marcos |
Austin, Texas |
| Daisy Duke |
So. |
OPP |
Cal Poly Pomona |
Rancho Cucamonga |
| Emily Eaton |
Sr. |
OH |
Sonoma State |
Ukiah |
| Jalyn Hayes |
Jr. |
MB |
Cal State San Bernardino |
San Bernardino |
| Jessica Haynie |
Sr. |
OH |
San Francisco State |
Temecula |
| Makaela Keeve |
Sr. |
MB |
Chico State |
San Rafael |
| Marlee Nunley |
So. |
S |
Cal State San Bernardino |
Murrieta |
| Karla Santos |
Sr. |
OH |
Cal State LA |
Manati, Puerto Rico |
| Jazmyn Wheeler |
So. |
OH |
Cal Poly Pomona |
Phoenix |
| Kira Zimmerman |
Sr. |
S |
Cal Poly Pomona |
Redondo Beach |
| All-CCAA Second Team |
| Name |
Yr. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Chelsey Berry |
Sr. |
L |
Stanislaus State |
Tracy |
| Eliza Cannon |
So. |
S |
Cal State LA |
Santa Ana |
| Asia Clarke |
Jr. |
OH |
Cal State San Bernardino |
Wildomar |
| Emily Elliott |
Fr. |
OPP |
Cal State LA |
Costa Mesa |
| Abby Knapp |
Jr. |
OH |
Cal State Monterey Bay |
Atwater |
| Drew Morris |
Sr. |
OH |
San Francisco State |
Temecula |
| Macky Morris |
Jr. |
MB |
Stanislaus State |
Post Falls, Idaho |
| Alejandra Negron |
Sr. |
OH |
Cal State LA |
Bayamon, Puerto Rico |
| Makena Overbey |
Jr. |
L |
Cal State San Bernardino |
Fontana |
| Jazminn Parrish |
So. |
OH |
Cal Poly Pomona |
Bellflower |
| Kiana Richardson |
Jr. |
OH |
Sonoma State |
Lakeport |
| Jennifer Trephan |
Jr. |
S |
Sonoma State |
Thousand Oaks |
| Honorable Mention |
| Breyan Ashley (CSUEB), Grecia Cordero-Barr (CSUSM), Carla Crespo (HSU), Kiara Erving (STAN), Bailey Fuches (CSUDH), Kara Green (CSUEB), Mollin Helfrich (CSUMB), Izzy Issak (SFSU), Kelley Jacome (CHICO), Lindsey McLaughlin (HSU), Brooke Ono (CHICO), Yisel Perez (STAN), Brynn Sherbert (CPP), Jeshmarie Suarez (CSLA), Kaitlan Tucker (CPP), Madison Turner (CSUSM), Jenna Tobin (CSUMB). |