Five Warriors given all-league girls volleyball honors

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The Valley League girls volleyball coaches conferred all-league recognition upon five Fallbrook High School players.

Bailee Aguila and Claire Nordeen were chosen for the first team. Harley Benitez was a second-team selection. Malia Dabney and Alexa Van Eik received honorable mention designation.

“It was great to have that many,” Fallbrook coach Chip Patterson said.

Fallbrook had a 7-3 record in Valley League play; the Warriors finished second in the standings. Fallbrook’s overall 20-19 mark includes a loss in the first round of the CIF Division II playoffs.

“It was a good season overall. They made it to the playoffs and just fell short,” Patterson said.

Nordeen and Mount Carmel High School senior Josie Broyles each received three votes from the coaches for league player of the year. The impasse was settled by the athletic directors of the six schools, who gave the player of the year award to Broyles. Mount Carmel was 8-2 in league play and won the league championship. Nordeen and Broyles were both setters, although Broyles is a senior and Nordeen is a junior.

Nordeen led the team with 500 assists, with 186 digs and with 94 serving aces. She also had 105 kills and 42 blocks consisting of 24 solo blocks and 18 assisted blocks.

“She’s very talented,” Patterson said. “She will always put her all out there.”

Aguila had 134 kills, 108 digs, 21 aces, 19 solo blocks and 10 assisted blocks for a total of 29, and five assists.

“She can block; she can hit, She can do a multitude of things,” Patterson said.

Aguila played both middle blocker and right side hitter. She is a senior.

“Bailee’s going to truly be missed,” Patterson said. “That talent is hard to replace.”

Benitez is also a senior and was both a middle blocker and an outside hitter for the Warriors. She led the 2022 team with 154 kills and with 44 blocks consisting of 34 solo blocks and 10 assisted ones. She also had 27 aces, 102 digs and 12 assists.

Dabney is a senior and also played both middle blocker and outside hitter. Her 2022 season included 131 digs, 108 kills, 19 aces, 16 solo and 13 assisted blocks for 29 altogether and 11 assists.

Van Eik is a junior who was the Warriors’ libero in 2022. She had 161 digs, 38 assists, eight aces and six kills.

Aguila, Benitez and Dabney were Fallbrook’s only seniors on the team. The other two all-league players are expected to return.

“Just looking to find more dedicated girls to come out,” Patterson said.