Jordan Vander Veen and the rest of the Ripon Christian girls volleyball team managed to top its magical 2022 run to a state championship.

The Concordia-bound outside hitter headlines the Manteca Bulletin All-Area teams for fall sports. She is joined by Ripon freshman Reyna Biedermann, Sierra senior Mikayla Bueno (cross country), Ripon senior Katie Martin (golf) and Manteca junior Emma Ngo.

Vander Veen repeats as All-Area Girls Volleyball MVP after leading Ripon Christian (37-5) to a second straight state title and its third overall. The Knights also captured their 19th Sac-Joaquin Section championship, and these achievements came at new heights for the decorated small-school powerhouse.

Ripon Christian charged through the SJS Division IV bracket and swept city rival Ripon in the final; all of its previous 18 Section banners were earned in Division V. For the California Interscholastic Federation state playoffs, the Knights were elevated to Division III after winning the Division IV crown last year and Division V in 1999.

At the center of their latest jaunt to the state final was the 5-foot-9 Vander Veen, one of the most prolific hitters in the state. She finished with the most kills in the SJS with 497, ranking her 14th in the state. Vander Veen averaged 4.1 kills per set, had the second most service aces on her team with 93 and third most digs with 274.

She had a season-high 25 kills to go with 12 digs and five aces in the season opener at Central Valley Christian of Visalia, a rematch of the 2022 CIF Division IV final. The Knights won in five sets, and it would be the only match to go five all season.

RC dropped only one set in 11 matches during its remarkable postseason run. Vander Veen had four double-doubles.

Seeded 13th, the Knights traveled to San Anselmo and knocked off reigning CIF Division III champion Archie Williams 25-14, 25-16, 25-19 behind Vander Veen’s 14 kills, 11 digs and 10 service points

Four days later, Ripon Christian returned to Santiago Canyon College in Orange for the state championships, using the early momentum from a dramatic opening set to sweep past first-time finalist Redwood of Visalia, 26-24, 25-19, 25-15. The Knights trailed 24-22 but scored four unanswered points to steal the opening set. Vander Veen helped spark that comeback with a kill, finishing with 11 kills, 20 digs, 13 service points and three aces. 

The Knights also seized their 12th championship in 13 seasons in the Southern Athletic League. They’ll join Ripon and other SJS powerhouses such as Escalon, Hilmar and Sonora in the Trans-Valley League next year.

Vander Veen was named MVP in the SAL for a second straight year, sharing the award with teammate Sydney Hoffman.

Here’s the rest of the Manteca Bulletin All-Area Girls Volleyball Team:

Middle Blocker of the Year

Sydney Hoffman, Ripon Christian, Sr.

The Stanislaus State signee was one of the most efficient sluggers in the state, ending with the fourth best hitting percentage at 0.465 which was also second highest in the SJS. Hoffman totaled 321 kills, 46 blocks and 52 aces while earning Co-MVP of the SAL.

Outside Hitter of the Year

Michaela Singh, Manteca, Sr.

After breaking her wrist at the end of 2022, Singh bounced back with a stellar all-around senior season. She ranked 16th in the SJS with 337 kills (3.9 per set) to go with 209 digs and 48 aces and was voted Co-Most Outstanding Player in the Valley Oak League.

Setter of the Year

Reagan Wilkerson, Ripon, Sr.

Wilkerson led the Indians (30-7) to their first Trans-Valley League title in seven years and a second consecutive SJS Division IV final. Her 127 service aces are third most in the SJS and ninth most in the state. She also racked up 536 assists and 205 digs, earning All-TVL MVP. Wilkerson has signed with Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee.

Defensive specialist of the Year

Leah Van Wyngarden, Ripon Christian, Sr.

With the Knights losing three key outside hitters to graduation, namely Campbell University signee Ava Van Groningen, the versatile Van Wyngarden — who once filled in as emergency setter in a NorCal match her sophomore year — stepped into an attacking role from her preferred position at libero. She proved to be up to the task, compiling 311 kills while still leading the Knights defensively with 419 digs, good for ninth most in the SJS. She’s also ranked 16th in the nation and third in California with 148 service aces.

All-Area First Team: DS Allison Brown, Ripon Christian, Sr.; Adriana Dorn, Ripon, So.; OH, Zoe Kossart, Sierra, Sr.; MB Izabella Sanchez. Manteca, Sr.; MB Mariela Navarro, East Union, Sr.; S Megan Weststeyn, Ripon Christian, Sr.;

All-Area Second Team: OH Elizabeth Andrade, Lathrop, Jr..; MB Abigail Chapman, Sierra, Sr.; OH Kylee Fullmer, Ripon, Sr.; RS/OPP Katherine Eskes, Ripon, Sr.; OH/DS Sophia Marian, Sierra, Sr.; S Kaya Whittaker, Ripon, Sr.

WATER POLO MVP

Reyna Biedermann, Ripon, Fr.

Biedermann had an impressive rookie season to her high school career after making the USA Water Polo Women’s Development National Team over the summer.

She paced Ripon on both ends of the pool with 108 goals on 180 shots (60%) and 81 steals. She also tallied 43 assists and 15 blocks, earning MVP in the VOL and SJS Division III.

The Indians trampled Christian Brothers 13-3 to win their second straight SJS Division III title. Biedermann had five goals and five steals in the final.

All-Area Team: GK Tiffany Hunter, Ripon, Jr.; Sami Scheid, Ripon, Sr.; Crystallyn Tran, Ripon Jr.; Faith Fasani, Ripon, So.; Lauren Ellis, Sierra, Sr.; Gianna Ramos, Sierra, Jr.; Amy Fadeff, Sierra, Jr.

CO-GOLFERS OF THE YEAR

Katie Martin and Aaliyah Martinez, Ripon, Sr.

They led Ripon to a fifth straight league championship, with Martinez earning Most Outstanding Player after shooting a first-place score of 92 in the TVL Championship at Manteca Park Golf Course. Martin scored a 98 and earned all-league.

The Indians then placed second in the SJS Division V Tournament also at Manteca Park. Martin took fifth individually with a 91, and Martinez carded a 92 as they both qualified for the SJS Masters Championships.

Making her third appearance at Masters, Martin wrapped up her accomplished career with an 89 at The Reserve at Spanos Park. Martinez finished with a 91.

All-Area Team: Emily Camara, Manteca, So.; Arianna Pale, East Union, Fr.; Jessica Ingalls, East Union, Jr.; Alizae Farias, East Union; Lindsey Rose, Sierra, Sr.; Emma Basile, Sierra.

TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Ngo prevailed in a two-hour final against Central Catholic’s Mianna Robinson to won the VOL singles title, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (5).

As the new No. 1 player for Manteca, Ngo went undefeated in team duals until the semifinal round of the SJS Division IV team playoffs. She lost to Foothill Valley League titlist Ava Doak 3-6, 6-7 (5) at second-seeded Placer, the eventual champion.

All-Area Team: Shreya Raman, Manteca, So.; Christina Nguyen, Manteca, Sr.; Navleen Dosanjh, Sierra, Sr.; Madilynn, Romero, Lathrop; Sr.; Eliza Alday Lathrop, Sr.

CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Mikayla Bueno, Sierra, Sr.

After taking second to Oakdale’s Bradie Evans in each of the first two VOL cluster meets, Bueno got

Bueno earned top-25 finishes in the Bret Harte Frogtown Invitational, Tom Laythe Invitational and Flat SAC Invitational. She was also the top local runner in the SJS Sub-Section meet at Frogtown, finishing 20th in Division III with a time of 20:44.9.

All-Area Team: Mallory Govia, Ripon, Jr; Haley Hill, Sierra, Jr.; Kiana Kutch, Sierra, Sr.; Monse Saavedra, Sierra, So.; Jenna Skavdahl, Ripon, Sr.