Riverside, Calif. - Captain Ayana Felton celebrates her Senior Day with the Golden Eagles after spending her four year career at La Sierra. Felton wore number 3 her Rookie year, but has stuck with number 2 the last three years. This season, Felton has appeared in 22 matches for 72 sets. She has 145 kills, 33 assists, 20 service aces, 501 receptions, 224 digs, 2 solo blocks, 9 block assists, and a total of 171.5 points. She has a season high of 21 kills against Park-Gilbert. Last season, she appeared in 27 matches for 101 sets. She totaled 261 kills, 42 assists, 42 service aces, 554 receptions, 386 digs, 3 solo blocks, 17 block assists, and a total of 314.5 points. She again had a season high of 21 kills against Providence Christian. In 2021, Ayana appeared in 26 matches for 92 sets. She had 170 kills, 30 assists, 49 service aces, 382 receptions, 265 digs, 1 solo block, 19 block assists, and a total of 228 points. She had a season high of 19 kills against Westcliff. In her Rookie season, she appeared in 29 matches for 109 sets. She had 50 kills, 11 assists, 33 service aces, 35 receptions, 225 digs, 4 solo blocks, 18 block assists, and a total of 96 points. She had a season high of 8 kills against Pacific Union. In her career, Ayana has appeared in 104 matches for 374 sets with 626 kills, 116 assists, 144 service aces, 1,472 receptions, 1,100 digs, 10 solo blocks, 63 block assists, and a total of 810 points.
Felton is pursuing a degree in Communications in Public Relations. In the future she plans to be working for an international airline as a flight attendant for a couple of years. Some awards and accomplishments Felton has received has been SAAC team representative 2022-current, Team captain since 2022- current, 3rd in digs for La Sierra University rankings, and 2022-2023 MVP.
Ayana describes her experience at La Sierra as, “My experience has been quite an interesting one. I joined the program in 2019 when life was "normal" pre-pandemic. La Sierra has always been there for me in terms of a "home". I enjoyed the program over the years and being on different team environments through the years. Academically, I always enjoyed the smaller classroom sizes and how much the communications department has always been there for their students.”
Let's congratulate and thank Ayana Felton for all of her accomplishments and hard work on and off the court. We wish you all the best and can't wait to see where life takes you.
Here's a little more about Ayana Felton.
Question: What was your favorite sport memory at La Sierra?
Ayana Felton: My favorite sport memory at La Sierra has to be the first time going to playoffs in 2019. I played the best game of my life, and our team was just so stacked with players who put the work in, and although it didn't end in our favor. The night of our final game, we all came together and just laughed and enjoyed the time we spent together building the team.
Q: How long have you been playing this sport and how did you get into playing this sport?
AF: I have been playing volleyball since my freshman year of high school, so in total nine years and 11 seasons total (including travel volleyball). Getting into volleyball was an accident, I knew I was just genetically athletic and I absolutely was not good at anything else. I tried out for the high school team, because the head of the program coached my Aunt when she played in college. I made the team and fell in love with the game completely.
Q: Who is your biggest influence in your life?
AF: My biggest influence in life is literally everyone in my family. I think a piece of everyone I hold very close to me. All the talks, advice, tears, and comfort from everyone in my family has overall helped me get to where I am today, somehow. I have a very large village of people who love me and want the best for me, and I never take it for granted.
Q: Do you have any superstitions or pre-game rituals?
AF: I used to be very big on my sock superstition, that my left and right labeled socks had to be on the opposite foot until this season. It wasn't the socks after all....
Q: What is your perfect pre-game meal?
AF: My perfect pre-game meal this season has been flame broiler or spaghetti.
Q: Go to pump-up song or music?
AF: Anything R&B, sets the vibes.
Q: What do you enjoy doing on your off days?
AF: I'm afraid don't know what an off day is....
Q: Who is your favorite sports team/player?
AF: Kathryn Plummer, hands down. She played volleyball for Stanford University, and while she was a senior in high school, I was a freshman. I ended up getting to play her in a CIF match. She's 6'6, and plays for the USA team now, but the respect you gain from playing someone who went that far is something I'll never forget.
Q: What are five things you can't live without?
AF: 1. Family. 2. Lipgloss. 3. Lululemon Crossbody bags. 4. Crocs. 5. Music.
