Four Manteca High volleyball players were recognized in a signing ceremony after school Friday in the campus cafeteria, as they’ve committed to play at the next level.
Defensive specialist Abbey Kadillak and middle blocker Karlie Spohn will continue to work as teammates at Sacramento State. Setter Arielle Chandler is headed to Cal State Los Angeles in part to commemorate older brother Carl, who was a student-athlete there before dying in a car accident in 2019. Versatile outside hitter Adrianna Powell will play for Delta College with aspirations to transfer to a Division-I school.
“I’m extremely proud and excited for them and their future,” Manteca coach Robin Chandler said. “They’ve all worked hard and they love this sport.”
Coach Chandler has coached the foursome since they were in middle school. Arielle and Kadillak were teammates at Woodward School from grades 6-8, and Spohn joined in the seventh grade. Robin Chandler was the coach. Powell competed against them while with Sequoia School but teamed with them for Club Manteca in the eighth grade.
At Manteca, the quartet led the Buffaloes to their 10th Valley Oak League championship, finishing 11-1 and 26-8 overall. They advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III semifinals and qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation NorCal Regionals.
All four made the All-VOL team, and Kadillak was named MVP. She was the first out of the four to commit, doing so in the fall. Spohn received her offer from Sac State in recent weeks, signing on Thursday.
They join a competitive Division-I school from the Big Sky Conference. The Hornets went 10-6 in conference play and 16-12 overall last season.
“I definitely wanted to a Division-I program,” Kadillak said. “It’s a little nerve-wracking to go from high school and club volleyball to the D-I level. I think it’s going to be a challenge, but I’m ready to work and hopefully have a lot of success there.”
Kadillak, who plays for OMNI Volleyball Club out of Roseville, is considering a career in nursing.
Spohn plans to study engineering at Sac State. While happy to continue her playing career with Kadillak, it’s coincidence that they’ll both be going there. Spohn was not aware she was on Sac State coach Ruben Volta’s radar until recently.
“Coach saw me play about a month ago and said he likes the way I play,” she said. “He came to my practice and followed every game and offered me a scholarship about two weeks ago. I am so excited. The girls are so nice and amazing and I can’t wait to play with them.”
Spohn and Chandler both play for Delta Valley Volleyball Club of Lodi.
Chandler won’t be too far from family while in Southern California, as her brother Kylan is already there pursuing an acting career. A volleyball standout himself at Manteca, Kylan attended the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles out of high school.
Carl, the eldest of the three siblings, ran track for Cal State L.A. Arielle had made it a goal to earn a scholarship from Cal State L.A. to honor his memory.
“There was nowhere else I wanted to go,” she said. “I like the college, I like the coaches, I like their record, there’s the personal meaning, obviously — it felt right.”
She is undecided on a major but may explore a career in photography or music.
Cal State L.A. has been a top program out of the NCAA Division II California Collegiate Athletic Association, winning at least 20 matches the past three years.
Powell had her choice between multiple junior colleges and opted for Delta, which has a competitive program in the Big 8 Conference. The Mustangs often feature several of the top players from the Manteca area. Former MHS standout Kaitlyn Morenzone played setter for Delta in the fall.
“Delta has so many great players,” Powell said. “I’ll really have to work to earn a spot, and that would help me get better.”
Her dream is to transfer to UC San Diego and major in marine biology. She plays for Ripon-based Rage Volleyball.
