Whittier Christian Volleyball Player Honored

Whittier Christian’s Derek Beard has been named the Southern Section 2-A volleyball player of the year.

Beard, a junior outside hitter, led the Heralds to their second consecutive 2-A title last month. He was one of four Heralds named to the 2-A first team.

Other Orange County players on the all-Southern Section teams:

Division 4-A

First team: Russell Gan (Newport Harbor), Jeff VanderWal (Huntington Beach); Second team: Claude Doumerc (Huntington Beach), Matt Fuerbringer (Estancia), Aaron Garcia (Capistrano Valley), Frank Griffo (Newport Harbor), Joe McCarthy (Edison), Justin McIntee (Newport Harbor), Chris Swanner (Irvine); Third team: Eric Fegraus (Laguna Beach), Bryan Lawson (Capistrano Valley), Krister Olsson (Woodbridge).

Division 3-A

First team: Brad Goldston (Esperanza), Chris Pitzak (Esperanza). Second team: Ryan Delaney (Esperanza), Paul Nihipali (Esperanza). Third team: Doug Finnel (Valencia), Mike Herrera (Garden Grove), Aaron Seltzer (El Modena).

Division 2-A

First team: Derek Beard (Whittier Christian), Matt Beeman (Calvary Chapel), Troy Biehl (Whittier Christian), Aaron Forrister (Whittier Christian), Adam McIlhenny (Whittier Christian), Dan Neumann (Calvary Chapel). Second team: Adam Keife (Whittier Christian), Tyler Lary (Calvary Chapel), Peter Schrock (Whittier Christian). Third team: Tim Stranske (Whittier Christian), Matt Wright (Calvary Chapel).

Charmayne Conley of Corona del Mar High School has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at Idaho State next season.

Conley, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter, was an All-Sea View League selection as a junior and senior. She helped the Sea Kings to the Southern Section 5-A and State titles as a junior.

Karyn Rice, an assistant softball coach at Cal State Long Beach this season, has been named to take over Mater Dei’s program next season, Monarch girls’ Athletic Director Sharon Kennedy said Thursday.

Rice replaces Cathy Quesnell, who resigned last week. Quesnell coached the Monarchs, the top-ranked team in the county this season, to the Angelus League championship and the Southern Section 5-A semifinals.

Rice was an all-league softball player at Mater Dei, where she played in the mid-1980s. She attended Creighton on a softball scholarship.