Perhaps the biggest challenge facing any community college athletic program is roster management.

Half the roster turns over every year. Sometimes, the turnover is much steeper.

Take Mesa College women’s volleyball team. The Olympians won their first state championship last December. But only four regulars returned this season from that team and Mesa opened the 2024 campaign with close to an all-freshman front line.

The result: Mesa is returning to the eight-team, 3C2A state tournament this weekend seeking a second straight California Community College title.

And Olympians coach Bobbie Jo Stall-Vest likes her team’s chances.

“We’ve had an excellent run this season and we’re definitely on a roll right now,” said Stall-Vest. “I’m proud of this team. Last year, I didn’t know for sure if we could win. I knew it was a possibility and that generally our level of experience was going to be an advantage, which it was.

“Although most of those players graduated, we had a nice group of returning sophomores with real strength along the back line. Up front, we had a great group of pretty talented freshmen. The question was how long would it take to become a cohesive team.”

Not long at all.

“This group worked hard coming out of the gate,” said Stall-Vest. “You could see that in our first practice. There is actually more expectation going into the state tournament this year than last.”

“All us freshmen were nervous when we first got here,” said Lilia Rosales, a middle blocker and outside hitter from Mission Vista High School. “We felt we had to prove ourselves. But that wasn’t the case. The sophomores really welcomed us. There’s a culture of cohesiveness in this program. All these girls were ready to go. Honestly, it was immediately exciting to play with a group like this.”

But there is little doubt in any Olympians’ mind about the strength of the 2024 women’s volleyball team.

“We play really good defense,” said Stall-Vest. “We don’t let the ball hit the ground.”

It helps that Mesa College has some of the best volleyball players in the state – as well as one of the best in the nation.

Sophomore setter Jaiden Mojica (Bonita Vista High School) has been named an All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She is also an all-state pick and the Pacific Coast Athletic Association Player of the Year.

Mojica, sophomore hitter Halen Kiefer, sophomore libero Lia Go SoCo (Scripps Ranch High School) and freshman outside hitter Bella Town (Carlsbad High School) were all first-team all-PCAC picks on a Mesa team that posted a perfect 16-0 record in conference play.

Rosales, freshman setter/libero Isabella Barrios (Helix High School) and freshman outside hitter Eva Luna (University City High School) were second-team all-PCAC selections.

While Mesa posted a 25-1 overall record, they are only the No. 2 seed from the south going into their Friday afternoon quarterfinals match against Serra College at Mt. San Antonio College.

Long Beach City College is the south’s top seed. LBCC defeated Mesa 3-2 on Sept. 20 in Long Beach after Mesa won the first two games.

“We’d like nothing more than to meet Long Beach in the finals,” said Stall-Vest. “We want to get back at them … we sure do. We had a couple really good wins in the first rounds of the playoffs (defeating Ventura and Mt. SAC by identical 3-1 scores in the Southern California regionals).”

Libero Macy Thornburg says there’s “a different feel” this season.

“Last year’s team was highly energetic with a lot of hype,” she said. “This year’s team is quieter … the bench is a lot quieter. But there’s a determination with this group.”

Stall-Vest, who is known as Coach Bo-Jo to her players, is in her ninth season coaching women’s volleyball and beach volleyball at Mesa College. She coached at her alma mater of San Marcos High School from 2011-2017 and was an assistant at Cal State San Marcos for two seasons.

She is also the coach of the Wave, one of the top club volleyball programs in the nation.

“We have great representation in local players,” Stall-Vest said of the Mesa College roster. “We get a lot of players from the Wave and Coast club programs, which are very high-profile organizations. I think being involved in the Wave club and knowing who’s who is very helpful.”

Rosales played for Stall-Vest on the Wave while Mojica played for the Coast club the past two years.

Thornburg was in at Castle View High School in Castle Rock, Colo., when she sent letters to coaches seeking a roster spot. Stall-Vest replied.

“The first draw was beach over snow,” said Thornburg. “My biggest surprise was the size of Mesa College. Junior colleges in Colorado are small. There are 30,000 students here. It was an adjustment, but I made the right decision.

“I got a ring last year. That’s why I’m here. And the other hand is ready.”

Editor’s note: Every week, U-T contributor Bill Center highlights one San Diego college team that’s making strides on and off the field. To nominate a team, email wcenter27@gmail.com.