OCC's Safavi, Central Valley Pair Named CCCWVCA State Players of the Week #5

Orange Coast College outside hitter Nika Safavi and two players from the two new divisions in the Central Valley Conference--Fresno City OH Kalani Soares from the North Division and College of the Sequoias libero Allison Wood from the South Division--are the CCCWVCA State Players of the Week #5.

Safavi, a 5-foot-11 sophomore from Beckman High in Tustin, led Orange Coast to two wins that opened Orange Empire Conference play for the Pirates last week. In a sweep over Fullerton, she ripped 12 kills, hit .500, landed a whopping eight aces and made seven digs. Safavi, who is averaging 2.11 passing this season, pounded 13 kills with 14 digs and two aces in OCC's sweep of Santa Ana. 

The letterman hitter has led Orange Coast to an undefeated record of 10-0 thus far this season. Safavi is in the top five in state kills per set at a 4.4 average.

Soares, a 5-8 freshman pin and setter from Clovis West High, totaled 31 kills for the week, including a season-high 15 (.367) with 15 digs, four aces and two blocks in a 5-set Fresno win over American River. She had 29 digs and 12 aces combined as the Rams also swept Hartnell and West Valley. She has helped Fresno to a 12-2 record.

Wood, a 5-4 sophomore out of Immanuel High in Reedley, is the state's digs leader at a 6.04 average per set. She totaled 86 digs in four COS victories, including a season-high 32 in a 5-set win over Sacramento City. Wood added eight aces and was outstanding on serve receive, efficient on 78 of 83 attempts for the week. She has helped the Giants to a 12-2 mark.

Release/Rankings by Robert Lewis, CCCWVCA SID