ARBUCKLE, CA (MPG) – Having compiled a 27-9 overall record a season ago, their third best in the past 20 years, the Pierce Bears are looking to continue their success in 2025, and according to head coach Lauren Orbaun they have what they need to do so.
“This group is competitive and motivated to win,” said Ornbaun who is now in her third season at the helm. “We have all the pieces we need. It’s just a matter of putting them together.”
Forming the cornerstone of this year’s squad are five returners who put up numbers in 2024 which saw the Bears finish as the Northern Section CIF Division IV runner-up, before their season finally came to an end in the second round of the state tournament.
Leading the way are Pierce’s pair of senior setters Magali Jauregui and Leah Charter.
Jauregui, tenth in the section in assists with 551 also served 87 aces and made 177 digs, while Charter’s stat line included 416 assists, 235 kills, 53 aces, 44 blocks and 167 digs.
Fellow senior Charlie Wayman will also reprise her role as an all-around player who tallied 99 aces, which was fifth in the section, 201 kills, 230 digs and 383 receptions.
Rounding out the core of returners are sophomore Rylie Delepierre and senior Destany Martinez, who played in the middle and outside respectively.
As a freshman, Delepierre threw down a team-high 271 kills and was fifth among the section leaders in blocks with 90 which potentially makes her one of the more dominant front row players in the Sacramento Valley League, while Martinez showed continued improvement, ending her junior season with 88 digs, 77 kills and 19 aces.
Without question Pierce will need this group to perform either at or above last year’s level, but the real challenge becomes replacing two key positions that were vacated by the graduation of Macey Myers and Maicey Hoebel.
Myers, the first team All-Northern Section libero anchored the back row, averaging 14.7 digs and 15.9 service receptions per match, which allowed the Bears to transition into their offense, while Hoebel was a steady presence at the net where she accounted for 229 kills and 75 blocks.
Yet with 13 on the roster Pierce has plenty of players vying to step up and make their mark.
Senior defensive specialist Alondra Barrera has the most experience having appeared in 27 sets a year ago where she averaged 2.1 digs and 2.3 receptions, while Nita Rodriguez returns after a year’s absence and will see time at both middle and opposite.
Juniors making their varsity debut will be Grace, Szmurlo, Whitney Traynham and Lesly Velazquez along with Lyla Maldonado and Vicky Salud, while sophomore Charlotte Reyna will also have opportunities to prove herself as well.
Having a larger team provides options, but will also require some trial and error as they figure out the rotation.
Still, Ornbaun is confident that her squad will find its rhythm, but knows that it will have to avoid some of the lapses they exhibited last season in order to make another deep run in the playoffs.
“We have some young ones this year, but have enough upperclassmen that can provide leadership to help them succeed,” said the former Bear standout. “However, we need to be consistent. We need to reach our highest potential and stay there, no matter who we play. Having the competitive edge as well as a high volleyball IQ along with the ability to adapt our rotation will be extremely important.”
Pierce opened the season this week at home with preseason games against Maxwell on Aug. 12 and Quincy on Aug. 14, which was prior to the Pioneer Review deadline.