Four freshmen and four sophomores make up the roster for the 2019 Reedley College women's volleyball team.
Former Tiger standout Mariah Roby was hired to replace Shannon Jefferies, who retired last December after 22 seasons as the Tiger head coach. Roby added another former Tiger Madison Leighty to the coaching staff along with veterans Nobi Kitaoka and Chris Reclusado.
One of those sophomores, Brandi Wormley  (Washington Union), was third on the 2018 Tigers with 134 kills while other returnees combined for 50 kills on a squad that compiled a Central Valley Conference record of 4-14 (good for eighth place in a 10-team conference) and an overall record of 4-18. The CVC is down to nine teams after Cerro Coso was placed in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference.
Reedley opened the new season by competing in a scrimmage on Aug. 21 at Solano College in Fairfield. "I was very pleased with what I saw at the scrimmage," said Roby the next day. "I think we have massive potential and will actually be pretty competitive this coming season. After yesterday, I feel a lot better."
Other sophomores on the roster include Karen Sanchez (Parlier), Brittney Garibay (Dinuba) and Kayli Canales (Reedley).
Freshmen Tigers include setter Megan Gentry (Liberty, Madeira), Isabelle Del Fierro (Sierra) and Reedley High grads Nikole Rodriguez and Rylee Harmon.
Reedley opens the season at the San Joaquin Delta Tournament in Stockton on Sept. 6 before opening Central Valley Conference action in the home opener against Columbia on Sept. 18.
The players and coaches have been busy selling advertising for the team's media guide, which will be available soon.

By Will Goldbeck