El Capitan volleyball star makes college choice official. ‘Today means everything to me’
Leah Mendoza knew at an early age that she wanted to some day play college volleyball. It started as a little girl watching the games on TV.
“I told myself I would do everything in my power to get there,” Mendoza said.
That’s why Thursday afternoon was so special. Surrounded by family, teammates and coaches in the El Capitan High School gym, Mendoza signed her national letter of intent to play volleyball at the University of Nevada-Reno.
“Today means everything to me,” Mendoza said. “I’ve been looking forward to this day since I was a little girl. I’ve always wanted to play college volleyball.”
Mendoza was a four-year varsity starter at libero at El Capitan, earning Central California Conference Defensive Player of the Year three times during her high school career. Mendoza helped the Guachos make an undefeated 12-0 run to a CCC championship this season.
“(Nevada) is getting an amazing, amazing student athlete,” said Gauchos coach Chela Moreno. “She is a great leader, she communicates with everyone, she’s super friendly and if she knows something needs to be fixed she’s going to verbalize it.”
Moreno knew this day would be coming after watching Mendoza as a fifth grader at an El Capitan volleyball camp.
Moreno had Mendoza scrimmage with older players at the camp.
“At that age she already dominated the court,” Moreno said. “We knew from then she would go somewhere.”
The college volleyball scholarship didn’t come without hard work.
Mendoza has played volleyball year round for years, playing with travel teams in Ripon and Livermore.
“My mom drove me everywhere for volleyball,” Mendoza said. “We realized I had to venture out of Merced in order to pursue my dreams. I practiced in Ripon for four years and now I’m up in Livermore. It’s a very big commitment but this is what I wanted.”
Mendoza fell in love with Nevada after visiting the school. She plans on majoring in liberal studies with the hopes of becoming an elementary school teacher. Mendoza compiled a 3.6 GPA at El Capitan.
“Nevada had such a good environment when I was visiting,” Mendoza said. “I loved the coaches, just the culture that they had there and it’s a good distance from home.”
Mendoza can’t wait to get to Nevada and begin her college career.
“I’m so excited,” she said. “I’ve been waiting for this part of my life so I’m really excited.”
