Amanda Loeffler is smashing grapes and playing brilliant volleyball at Pacific Union, an NAIA school in Angwin, Calif., near Napa Valley, also known as the world’s famous wine growing region.
Amanda Loeffler is smashing grapes and playing brilliant volleyball at Pacific Union, an NAIA school in Angwin, Calif., near Napa Valley, also known as the world’s famous wine growing region.
The 2014 Hilo graduate and Pioneer freshman outside hitter has been a big hit, earning California Pacific Conference Player of the Week two weeks ago. The 5-foot-10 Loeffler had a season-high 22 kills and 21 digs against La Sierra on Oct. 4.
“That was a huge accomplishment for both Amanda and our program. There are some very excellent players in the Cal Pac and to have a freshman recognized as a player of the week reflects on Amanda’s hard work and a supportive program to set her up for that,” coach Brittany Brown said.
The Pioneers (14-9 overall, 4-3 Cal Pac) are third in the conference, behind front-runner La Sierra (7-14, 6-1) and Menlo (11-9, 4-2), and poised to make the four-team playoffs.
They next host last-place Simpson (4-21, 1-6) on Saturday. Then there are two more matches, including one against Menlo on Nov. 6, before the Cal Pac tournament championships, which will be held Nov. 13 and 15 in Riverside, Calif.
Unlike Napa Valley, Pacific Union is not known for much, except for being ranked America’s Most Beautiful College in 2012 by Newsweek and The Daily Beast due to its setting in grape country.
However, Loeffler is putting Pioneer volleyball on the NAIA map with her all-around game, and entertaining the home crowd at Pacific Auditorium, aka the Covered Wagon, where the team has a 7-2 record.
Loeffler is third in the conference with 3.3 kills per set, sixth in hitting percentage at .180, and ninth with 3.0 digs per set. Her impact is one reason Pacific Union has a strong shot to improve on last season’s best record (17-10, 7-5) in program history.
Her parents Daniel and Jennifer Loeffler have not visited yet. But it’s almost as if her dad — a de facto coach, lifetime motivational speaker and trainer — is always there.
“My parents watch me online at pioneersathletics.com, and my dad calls me right after the game, telling me what I did good, wrong and what I need to work on,” Loeffler said. “It’s like he’s here, all the time. I like it because at least I know they’re watching.
“My dad did play volleyball, but I don’t think he was good at it. He gives me useful tips, telling me my line shots are working. And when I come home, he’ll start training me more because he wants me to get better.”
With the playoffs around the corner, she has a few goals in mind.
“My goal this year is to make freshman of the year, and for the team to make it to the conference tournament finals,” said Loeffler, who saved her biggest goal for last. “The third is to make my dad proud.”
To submit a candidate for the Big Island College Report, email kjakahi@hawaiitribune-herald.com.