After the team was on hiatus for a year, Mariners Volleyball responded in a big way in the 2017 season. The team did not compete in 2016, but with new coach Lisa Gera at the helm, the Mariners impressed the entire 2017 season. The squad that was compiled hung with every opponent and dominated at times throughout the year.
The Mariners started the way it ended, with a victory. Over the course of the season the team compiled a 15-10 record and finished fourth in the Bay Valley Conference with 11 wins against just five losses.
College of Marin squad featured 10 first year players at College of Marin and while they had their growing pains, they quickly coalesced into a very successful team.
Marin opened the season with a win at San Jose City College and posted a 4-5 non-conference record that included victories over Columbia, Mendocino and Canada.
The team opened Bay Valley Conference competition with a tough 3-0 loss to Solano College but responded with three straight victories. They easily dispatched Contra Costa College before downing Yuba College in a thrilling five set match. They followed that up with a five-set victory over Napa, before suffering a heartbreaking five set loss to Los Medanos College on September 29th.
October was a near perfect month for the Mariners who began with four straight 3-0 wins over Alameda, Mendocino, Contra Costa and Laney College. They were tripped up at Yuba 3-1 before bouncing back for a nice 3-0 win over Napa Valley College on October 27th.
November opened with a 3-0 loss at Los Medanos before defeating Alameda 3-0. A home date against Solano College did not go as planned with a 3-0 defeat but the team responded to end the season on a high note with victories against Mendocino and Laney College.
The Mariners got contributions from all over the floor. Freshman Alejandra Leon led the team with 250 kills, 231 digs and 2.78 kills per set. Setter Sarah Harris has 583 assists and 7.2 assists per set on the year. Emma Harris did an excellent job as an outside hitter and libero as she led the team in digs per set with 2.61. Bella De Souza was extremely versatile for the Mariners with 125 kills and 138 digs on the year.
The Mariners 11-5 record in conference competition was enough to get the notice of the Conference as Leon was named to the Bay Valley All Conference First Team. Emma Harris was named to the All-Conference Second Team while Sarah Harris received an honorable mention.
All three are expected back for the Mariners in the 2018 Season.