Alta Loma’s Kirsten Sanchez commits to La Verne

Alta Loma High School volleyball standout Kristen Sanchez (center) wanted to choose a college relatively close to home. She did just that. committing to University of La Verne today.

Sanchez was team captain and starting libero for a Braves team that won Mt. Baldy League, Southern Section (Division 4AA)  and Southern California Regional (Division 4) titles. The Braves (36-3) also finished at state runner-up, losing the title match to Sonora 3-2.

She tallied a team-high 459 digs and was a first-team All-Inland Valley selection.

Sanchez also considered Vanguard and Concordia-Irvine as well as Grand Canyon University (Ariz).

“It felt like a good fit,” she said. “It was close to home and I really liked the team.”

Sanchez has a twin brother T.J. who will also be attending the school. The two went to a campus orientation together. They wanted to got to schools close together but it worked out they liked the same one.

The two are close. T.J. is known to the school’s volleyball enthusiasts as the guy who dressed up as the banana and led the cheering section at the team’s matches.

The University of La Verne volleyball team, coached by Jenna Panatier, went 20-7 last season. The Leopards advanced to the postseason but lost a first round NCAA Division III match to Trinity (Tex.) 3-0 at Cal Lutheran University.

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