Orange Coast College

Moon over Tallahassee; Pirate libero heading to Florida State

Monday, December 18, 2006

COSTA MESA - Ashlee Moon, the all-time digs leader in Orange Coast College women's volleyball history, is taking her academic and athletic career to Florida State University.

"It's an awesome opportunity for her to play at a great volleyball program," OCC head coach Chuck Cutenese said. "After we played (San Joaquin) Delta at the state tournament, I told her about it -- usually I don't tell my players when I'm talking to a school until after the season, but I knew that would fire her up."

Moon finished her OCC career with 846 digs, 319 more than the previous all-time best, set by Melissa Zapiain back in 2002 and 2004. Her strong defensive play helped the Pirates to back-to-back state championships in her two years here at Coast.

"I know that Idaho State was interested and there were a couple of California schools looking at me," Moon said. "But when I went out to Tallahassee to visit the campus, I couldn't believe I was even in Florida. There were so many big green trees and it had more of a country-type of atmosphere. Looking at the campus, you can't beat the atmosphere and how the town loves FSU athletics. It was a perfect situation for me. When you play athletics, you wish for opportunities like this."

Moon (pictured right, No. 7), a second-team, All-Orange Empire Conference selection and All-State Tournament selection, finished with a school-record 451 digs and 30 aces this year.

"Ashlee has always been a confident person, but when you win back-to-back state championships, it shows that she can perform with confidence at a top level," Cutenese said. "Florida State will get a player that will feel like she's played there for two years, not here."

Added Moon, "After taking a year off from the game, coming, playing here helped me reassure the passion I have for the game of volleyball. It's been a great experience here at Coast and a great experience with Chuck, both on and off the court. "I'm going to miss all of the great friendships I've made here that hopefully, will never go away."