PUC Hosts Girls’ Volleyball Tournament

From October 1-3, Pacific Union College hosted its Girls’ Volleyball Tournament for 12 schools throughout California. About 200 students and coaches from Redlands Adventist Academy, La Sierra Academy, Glendale Adventist Academy, Newbury Park Adventist Academy, Armona Union Academy, Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy, Pine Hills Adventist Academy, Central Valley Christian Academy, Lodi Academy, Monterey Bay Academy, Mountain View Academy, and PUC Prep competed in the college’s first high school tournament of the school year.

As teams arrived on campus Wednesday evening, PUC students welcomed them with dessert treats, dorm essentials, and new tournament shirts designed by PUC student Riley Ramirez. Before games began Thursday morning, each academy gathered for worship at Paulin Hall and listened to a message from PUC Assistant Professor of Music and Enrollment Counselor Kristian Leukert. To keep students fueled and hydrated, PUC offered a free snack-and-drink table at the gym during pregame and postgame, which the students always enjoy, with special food items for their coaches as well. Because PUC hosts this event, its athletic department also attends games to see which players they could potentially recruit.

After games on Thursday and Friday, visiting students could sit in on classes of their choice, giving them a glimpse of PUC life and classes related to a major they are interested in pursuing. Other ways academy students could get a peek at the PUC experience were by attending vespers, Afterlite, and church service. After Sabbath lunch, academy students could rest and socialize with other academies. PUC Executive Assistant and Enrollment Counselor Andrianna Massena has organized this tournament for almost five years and always sees the excitement students have when they see friends from other academies.

The tournament's final matches began Saturday night and families drove in from other cities to watch. The Redlands Adventist Academy Bulldogs won the championship game, with the Glendale Adventist Academy Cougars in second and the La Sierra Academy Knights in third.

“I think this year’s tournament went as well as it always does,” said Massena. “My favorite thing about hosting the tournament is seeing all the students and coaches I see every year and the energy they bring to our campus.” As teams and families headed home, Massena heard positive reviews of their time at PUC and how they look forward to returning for future tournaments.