PC notebook: Goulbourne now playing basketball for Pirates
For the past two years at Porterville College, Katrina Goulbourne has been a force on the volleyball court.
She was a two-time All-Central Valley Conference outside hitter and the team’s 2010 Most Valuable Player.
Goulbourne has returned to the PC campus for a third year — only this time, with a new purpose and a new sport.
She’s back as a member of the Pirate basketball team.
PC women’s basketball coach Dave Kavern remembers watching 5-foot-11 Goulbourne play basketball at Redwood High School in Visalia, and thought she would be able to help many of the teams in the CVC.
Goulbourne only played basketball during her senior season — after giving up her spot on the dance team — and chose PC to play volleyball for her former high school coach Dale Henderson.
“Katrina is a great addition to our program,” said Kavern.
“She’s our best athlete, so she’ll be able to defend our opponent’s best player — whether it’s a point guard or a center. On offense, she’s our best rebounder.”
Goulbourne passed on a volleyball scholarship offer from an NAIA college, and had interest from Cal State Bakersfield. She returned to PC to complete her A.A. degree in order to transfer to a four-year university.
“I definitely still plan to play volleyball at the next level,” Goulbourne said. “But while I’m completing my degree here at PC, I thought joining the basketball team would keep me in shape and help our team win.”
Goulbourne continues to ride the 6 a.m. bus from Visalia to Porterville. Her commitment to PC was just one reason why she was voted PC “Pirate of the Year” for all sports in 2010, the same year she served as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council.
Those qualities are appreciated by her “new” teammates.
“Kat brings an awesome energy and attitude to the gym every day,” said Ra-Ra Gomez, the team’s sophomore starting point guard.
“She’s determined to learn everything she can about playing college basketball. We enjoy having her on the team and I know she will keep improving during the season.”
Goulbourne insists that her reunion with hoops just isn’t to pass the time.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to get better and help the team succeed,” she said.
“Once I get into basketball shape, I will be a lot more confident on the court — just like I was confident playing volleyball.”
VOLLEYBALL STATISTICS
The first 2011 California Community College Women’s Volleyball statewide statistics report was released Tuesday, and the Pirates have some of the top leaders in Northern California.
Sophomore setter Stephanie Dounseroux leads all Central Valley Conference players in assists per game with a 7.33 average.
“One of my personal goals is to lead the conference in assists,” said Dounseroux, who ranked fifth last season.
“My stats represent the fact that we have great offensive hitters and a team full of hard workers. I hope all of us can improve our numbers.”
Freshman outside hitters Amanda Monge and Tori Daivs, both from Exeter, rank among the CVC leaders in several categories.
Monge ranks second in kills (3.38 per game), while Davis ranks fourth in aces (0.58) and sixth in kills (2.33).
On the defensive side, Monge ranks third in blocks (0.92), while sophomore libero Jennifer Landers is fourth in digs per game (3.58) and Dounseroux is 11th (2.67).
“It’s great to see Porterville represented among the best players in the state,” said coach Dale Henderson.
“We have a long way to go, but recruiters will know that these stats came against one of the toughest preseason schedules in the state.”
ON THE AIR
Volleyball captains Stephanie Dounseroux and Jennifer Landers (Granite Hills) will be the featured guests on Friday’s halftime show during KTIP’s Football Game of the Week between Strathmore and Avenal.
The sophomores will discuss the team’s early success, and give insight to PC’s preparation for the Central Valley Conference season.
