header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
December 20
1892 - Benjamin Harrison establishes 555,520-acre San Gabriel Timberland Reserve (Angeles National Forest). First forest reserve in California, second in U.S. [story]
map


| Wednesday, Nov 21, 2018
College of the Canyons freshman Grace Ferguson has been named an AVCA All-American in addition to earning All-State and All-Western State Conference honors. | Photo: Jacob Velarde/COC Sports Information.
College of the Canyons freshman Grace Ferguson has been named an AVCA All-American in addition to earning All-State and All-Western State Conference honors. | Photo: Jacob Velarde/COC Sports Information.

 

College of the Canyons middle blocker Grace Ferguson has been named an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American in addition to earning both All-State and All-Western State Conference honors.

Ferguson finished the regular season with a .466 hitting percentage to lead the state. The six-foot-two-inch freshman’s 125 total blocks and 1.37 blocks per set were also the top marks in California.

Her 208 total kills ranked second on the team and ninth in the WSC. Ferguson, who attended Saugus High School, also ranked second in the WSC and No. 14 in the state with 57 service aces.

As a result of those efforts Ferguson was one of just 12 student-athletes to be named to the California Community College Athletic Association All-State Team. She is just one of three all-state players hailing from the WSC. Ferguson is also an AVCA Third-Team All-American and an All-WSC First Team selection.

A full listing of 2018 All-State and All-American honorees is here.

Ferguson helped lead the Lady Cougars to an 18-8 overall record and 6-2 mark in conference play, with Canyons finishing as runner-up to Bakersfield College in the WSC, South Division. COC will now head into the postseason as the Southern Region’s No. 7 seed.

Also earning All-WSC First Team accolades for the Lady Cougars was freshman libero Elizabeth Gannon who finished the regular season with a conference-leading 64 aces and 424 digs. Those numbers ranked fourth and 11th, respectively, in the state.

COC sophomore outside hitter Shayla Johnson and freshman setter Sydney Higginson were both named All-WSC Second Team honorees.

Johnson had a team-best 256 kills to finish sixth in the conference, while her 34 aces were 11th. Higginson led Canyons with 388 assists to finish sixth in the WSC, at a rate of 5.24 assists per set.

Sophomore middle blocker Toni Bito and freshman outside hitter Madison Martinez were both named All-WSC Honorable Mention.

Bito, who was an all-conference second team selection a year ago, finished the regular season with 134 kills to rank fourth on the team. She also hit at a .371 clip. Martinez had 122 kills in her first year of action with the Lady Cougars.

Canyons is headed to the postseason for a sixth straight season. Last year, COC advanced all the way to the CCCAA State Championship tournament before losing to eventual state champion Irvine Valley College in the semi-final round. Canyons also played in the state championship tourney in 2015.

No. 10 San Diego Mesa and No. 7 Canyons next faced off at on Tuesday, Nov. 20, in the Cougar Cage.

General admission tickets are $12. Students/faculty/staff (with ID) from both schools, seniors over age 60 and children under 12 are $8, as mandated by the CCCAA. All First Responders will be admitted free to the game.

Stay up to date on all this season’s action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

— Photo by Jacob Velarde/COC Sports Information

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


WATCH NOW
LOCAL SPORTS HEADLINES
Friday, Dec 19, 2025
This week’s Foothill League matches resulted in the Saugus boys getting a firmer grip on first place, and the Saugus girls slipping into second place. Meanwhile, holiday tournaments are bringing both wins and losses from non-league teams, with more on the way.
Thursday, Dec 18, 2025
West Ranch High School senior Braulio Castillo (17) never did any long-distance running before high school, but what he has accomplished in that demanding discipline since taking it up is impressive. And, so far his senior year, it is phenomenal.
Thursday, Dec 18, 2025
The College of the Canyons soccer programs will be hosting 'Friday Night Footy,' small-sided pick-up games, running on Friday evenings Jan. 2 through June 26 at the COC Soccer Facility.
Thursday, Dec 18, 2025
College of the Canyons sophomore pitcher Nichole Muro will continue her academic and athletic career at Cumberland University after signing with the Phoenix softball program.
Thursday, Dec 18, 2025
College of the Canyons men's basketball won its fourth straight contest in an 80-72 affair at Napa Valley College on Monday afternoon, Dec. 15 as freshman Julius Washington led all scorers with 20 points.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1892 - Benjamin Harrison establishes 555,520-acre San Gabriel Timberland Reserve (Angeles National Forest). First forest reserve in California, second in U.S. [story]
map
The Saugus Union School District Governing Board of Trustees elected Matthew Watson as 2026 board president at the Tuesday, Dec. 16 organizational meeting.
Watson Elected SUSD Board of Trustees President
Los Angeles–based painter Jasimen Phillips is a featured artist in the city of Santa Clarita’s “Pop Culture” exhibition, currently on view at the Newhall Community Center through March 25, 2026.
Phillips Examines Evolving Relationship with Technology in Exhibit
The Gibbon Conservation Center in Saugus is requesting donations, including memberships and gibbon adoption sponsorships to reach a matching goal of $15,000.
Gibbon Center Needs Donations to Meet $15K Match
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees failed to complete its annual organizational vote to elect a new board president during its meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
COC Board Fails to Elect New President in Deadlocked Vote
There's no better way to celebrate the season than with toys, treats, and rollercoasters. My annual Foster Youth Holiday Party is one of the most special traditions we do each year
Kathryn Barger | Keeping Up With Kathryn
The Canyon Theatre Guild’s production of "A Christmas Story," adds shows due to high ticket demand. Shows have been added on Sunday, Dec. 21 and Monday, Dec. 22.
CTG ‘A Christmas Story’ Adds Shows, Dec. 21-22, Due to Demand
The city of Santa Clarita will present its latest art exhibition, “Pop Culture,” on view at the Newhall Community Center now through March 25, 2026.
City Presents ‘Pop Culture’ Art Exhibit at the Newhall Community Center
This week’s Foothill League matches resulted in the Saugus boys getting a firmer grip on first place, and the Saugus girls slipping into second place. Meanwhile, holiday tournaments are bringing both wins and losses from non-league teams, with more on the way.
Foothill League Soccer: Saugus Boys, Hart Girls Leading
1970 - Snow day in Santa Clarita Valley [photos]
Saugus train station
Do you have a passion for swimming and a desire to make an impact in your community? The city of Santa Clarita is seeking individuals with strong customer service skills and a commitment to community engagement to join its lifeguard team.
Applications Are Open for the Summer 2026 Lifeguard Season
Santa Clarita Valley residents need to put down the yule log and refrain from all residental wood burning fires on Friday, Dec. 19.
Dec. 19: No Burn Day Alert Issued for SCV, South Coast Air Basin
U.S. Rep. George Whitesides (D-Aqua Dulce), announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for California’s 27th Congressional District: the “MathViz” team led by local Academy of the Canyons student, Gautham Korrapati.
Whitesides Announces 2025 Congressional App Challenge SCV Winners
The Mardi Gras Madness 1K/5K/10K, set for March 1, in Santa Clarita, is more than a race, it’s a celebration of health, community and giving back. Now through Wednesday, Dec. 24, take $10 OFF race registration with promo code WINTER10 at checkout.
March 1: JCI Santa Clarita Holds Mardi Gras Madness 1K/5K/10K Runs
Theatre Extempore will present the all time classic musical The Fantasticks, 8-10 p.m. Jan. 9-11. 15-18 at The MAIN.
Jan. 9: Premiere of ‘The Fantasticks’ Presented by Theatre Extempore
West Ranch High School senior Braulio Castillo (17) never did any long-distance running before high school, but what he has accomplished in that demanding discipline since taking it up is impressive. And, so far his senior year, it is phenomenal.
West Ranch Runner Going the Distance
Powerlab Studio will hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting 4:30-5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8 at 28110 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia, CA 91355.
Jan 8: Powerlab Studio Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting
B2 Entertainment will have a Cookies With Santa event, 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21 at 21516 Golden Triangle Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.
Dec. 21: Cookies With Santa at MB2 Entertainment
The College of the Canyons soccer programs will be hosting 'Friday Night Footy,' small-sided pick-up games, running on Friday evenings Jan. 2 through June 26 at the COC Soccer Facility.
Jan. 2-June 26: Cougars Soccer Programs to Host ‘Friday Night Footy’
College of the Canyons sophomore pitcher Nichole Muro will continue her academic and athletic career at Cumberland University after signing with the Phoenix softball program.
Muro Signs with Cumberland University Softball Program
College of the Canyons men's basketball won its fourth straight contest in an 80-72 affair at Napa Valley College on Monday afternoon, Dec. 15 as freshman Julius Washington led all scorers with 20 points.
Cougars Win Fourth Straight 80-72 at Napa Valley
Canyons women's basketball snapped a five-game losing streak with a 60-44 win over Diablo Valley College during the final day of action at the Napa Valley Storm Surge tournament on Saturday, Dec. 13.
Canyons Finishes Tourney Weekend with 60-44 Win Over Diablo Valley
1929 - Swift justice: Thomas Vernon sentenced to life in prison for Saugus train derailment & robbery 1 month earlier [story]
Tom Vernon
SCVNews.com