College update: Gonzalez, Cal Lutheran capture NCAA championship
The following are updates on local athletes at the collegiate level:
Dani Gonzalez (Burroughs, 2014) sophomore, California Lutheran University women’s volleyball: It was a magical season for the Burroughs graduate and the Regals.
The group became the first squad in school history to capture an NCAA team title by sweeping Wittenberg University in the NCAA Division III championship match Saturday night at Calvin College’s Van Noord Arena.
“It was instant tears from every single one of us when that last point was scored,” said Gonzalez, a libero. “It was just amazing that we were able to win a national championship. It still hasn’t hit me yet.
“This team just worked so hard to be able to accomplish what we did, I’m just so proud of all of my teammates that they were able to make this a reality. ...I just feel fortunate to be a part of this team — it’s amazing.”
Cal Lutheran, ranked ninth, came into the championship match as an underdog to No. 6 Wittenberg (Ohio). But behind the strength of 13 kills from Allie Eason, the Regals were able to win in straight games, 25-23, 25-18, 25-16.
“We knew we were the underdogs coming in and we were fine with that,” said Gonzalez, who didn’t record any stats in the title contest. “We were really pumped coming in. We knew being the underdogs there was really nothing for us to lose. Hey, we had gotten to the championship game. But we just wanted to play for each other and for the love of the game.”
The Regals finished the season with a 31-5 record. The team was making its third appearance in the NCAA title game.
For the season, Gonzalez played in 17 matches, recording 35 digs, 12 assists and six service aces.
Aysia Shellmire (Burroughs High, 2013) Westmont women’s basketball junior: The forward/center has picked up where she left off last season with the Warriors when she earned National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American honorable mention and All-Golden State Athletic Conference Athletics accolades.
Through the first eight games of the season, the 6-foot Shellmire is second on the team in points, averaging 13.1 a contest. In addition, the junior is second on the team in rebounding with an 8.1 average to go along with eight total blocks.
In Westmont’s last game, a 71-65 victory against Azusa Pacific on Tuesday, Shellmire scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Her top effort of the season came Nov. 2 with 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting and 15 rebounds in a 70-61 win against Bethesda.
The Warriors have also thrived, jumping out to a 6-2 start. The Warriors are back in action Wednesday as they travel to California Lutheran.
Rishonda Napier (Bellarmine-Jefferson High, 2012) Southern Illinois women’s basketball junior: The former all-state standout has proven she is as talented in the classroom as she is on the basketball court for the Salukis.
Last season, she became the second Saluki women’s basketball player to earn first-team all-conference and scholar-athlete honors in the same season.
After missing games last season because of a separated shoulder, the point guard is back to form so far this season. Through the first three games, Napier — who redshirted her sophomore season after playing in just five games — is second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.7 points and is tops in points scored with 44. She is also a perfect six for six at the free-throw line.
Napier’s best effort to date came Saturday in a 79-70 overtime loss to Tennessee State in which she poured in 19 points.
Next up for the Salukis will be a road game Sunday at Memphis State.
Andre Spight (Burbank High) Arizona State men’s basketball junior: The 6-foot-3 guard who played for the Bulldogs before graduating from Pasadena High made an instant impact in taking the floor for the first time for the Sun Devils.
In a 102-34 exhibition win Nov. 7 against Western New Mexico, Spight scored 15 points.
“Andre Spight looked sharp in his minutes. He was very efficient,” first-year Arizona State Coach Bobby Hurley told the university website. “He had some foul issues that hopefully he’ll learn from, picking up two fouls early in a half isn’t a great thing, so we talked about that with him.”
Spight, who played two seasons at South Plains College in Levelland, Tex. before coming to Arizona State, is seeing his share of playing time early, averaging more than 25 minutes a game. He is averaging 5.2 points a game and has scored 27 points to go along with 2.4 assists.
The Sun Devils will return to the court Sunday when they host UC Santa Barbara.
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Jeff Tully, jeff.tully@latimes.com
Twitter: @jefftsports