Cerritos Water Polo Player Named State's Student-Athlete of the Month

The California Community Colleges Commission on Athletics (COA), in partnership with the California Community College Sports Information Association (CCCSIA) has named Cerritos College women's water polo player Jeannette Diaz (Bell Gardens High School) the COA Women's Student-Athlete of the Month for September 2006.

Diaz has been the cornerstone for the best start in school history for the Falcons through the first month of the season. She has helped lead the team to a school-best 7-0 record to start the year, an 11-2 record in the month of September and a team ranking as high as third in the state. Led by Diaz, the Falcons won their first two tournaments in school history at Cuesta and San Diego Mesa. In the 13 games during the month of September, Diaz has scored an amazing 58 goals, which already ranks as the third most in a season for the school. In addition, she ranks second on the team with 15 assists and has seven steals during the month.

Diaz picked up a season-high eight goals in a win over Santa Ana College at the Chaffey Tournament and has scored at least five goals in a game five times. In the four wins at the San Diego Mesa Tournament, Diaz scored 14 goals and assisted on four others, while she accounted for 16 goals and assisted on five others in the four wins in the Cuesta Tournament.

Currently, the team is 23-2 on the year and ranked #4 in the state, while they are riding a school-record 14-game winning streak. Diaz is now up to 71 goals on the year, while she has also contributed 17 assists and 16 steals. The Falcons will next host Chaffey College in the Falcon Pool on Wednesday, October 25 at 4:15 p.m.

Falcon men's cross country runner Daniel Clifford-Sorenson (Lakewood HS) was an honorable mention selection for the men's award after winning three straight meets during the month.

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JVG

The Campus Connection Online, October 23, 2006