Rachel Estrella

Two members of the Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs women's basketball team have agreed to matriculate to four-year universities next fall.

Vanessa Aguilar, a 5-8 shooting guard, has received a scholarship from UC Irvine. a NCAA Division I school. Rachel Estrella, a 5-5 guard, has agreed to attend Hope International University in Fullerton, a NAIA Division I school.

Both were instrumental in Valley achieving an 18-12 record overall, and an 8-4 record in the Western State Conference's Southern Division.

"I am going to miss Vanessa and Rachel," Monarchs Coach Monica Hang said. "They both were an integral part of our program. It will be hard to find such talented athletes like them who love basketball as much as they do.

"Basketball wasn't just a sport, it is their way of life. Basketball is used as a tool to help teach them life long skills to overcome adversity. I hope that they will continue to apply the skills that they have learned in the future."

Aguilar, a 2010 graduate of Grant High, first attended Arizona Western Community College in Yuma, AZ, but decided to return to California. She enrolled in Valley College last fall, and went on to average 20.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in conference play. She had a season high 37 points in a 74-65 win against Santa Monica on Jan. 21.

Overall, in 30 games, Aguilar averaged 18 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. She was named to the postseason Southern Division all-conference team.

Aguilar also excelled in the classroom. She maintained a 3.4 grade point average, and will graduate in June with her Associate Arts degree in Social and Behavior Sciences.

Vanessa Aguilar

"Vanessa Aguilar is the best student athlete I have ever coached to this day," Hang said. "She is a very gifted and talented basketball player. Some of the things that she is capable of doing seem so effortless. She has the best offensive skills and athleticism for her position.

"Vanessa is one of the best players in the state. She has grown tremendously during her season at LAVC. I am proud of her and the things that she has accomplished."

Estrella, who graduated from Glendale Hoover High in 2008, first attended Glendale College where Hang was coaching at the time. She would redshirt in the 2009-10 season, then sat out in 2010-11 before transferring to Valley.

In conference play Estrella averaged almost 13 points a game. She, too, earned an allconference team selection.

Estrella did her part in the classroom as well, with a 3.3 grade point average.

"It is not easy to sit out for two years and come back being your best," Hang said. "Rachel had to prove that she deserved a spot on the LAVC Women's Basketball Team. Rachel finally understands that intelligence comes from effort and hard work.

"This past season, she has grown into the young lady I've always wanted her to be."

According to Hang, Estrella is the first of five siblings to attend a four-year college.