The Rookie Who Runs the Court

Ava Dalangin Shines Early

Angelina Guerrero, Editor in Chief • September 22, 2025

Golden Valley’s volleyball program is seeing a new face rise to the spotlight this season. Freshman libero Ava Nalla Dalangin has already made her mark on the varsity squad, earning Athlete of the Month for August 2025. Despite being only a ninth grader, Ava has shown the confidence, discipline, and drive of a veteran player.

Dalangin has been playing volleyball for three years, including club. She says her journey has not been easy, but her determination carried her through. “I think I persevered through all the challenges I went through and I really tried my best,” she said.

Her inspiration comes from Nebraska libero Lexi Rodriguez. “She is a really, really great player and she has a great attitude. It really inspires me to just do better,” Dalangin shared.

This season has already brought tough matchups, including against Saugus. “One of the hardest challenges we went through was going against Saugus, especially them being a really, really great team. We kind of adapted to the situation we had and just kept trying our best in the game,” she explained.

When she found out she had won Athlete of the Month, Dalangin admitted she didn’t expect it. “I was very surprised; I thought it would be someone else,” she said. Still, the award pushes her to keep raising her level. “I think winning Athlete of the Month gives me a little bit of pressure, but I also feel more confident. It reminds me to keep doing my best,” she added.

Dalangin loves her role on the volleyball team and embraces what it takes to succeed as a libero. “As a libero it’s not like the traditional hitting, but I really love it because it’s very competitive. You have to be great at passing and I just like the spirit of it,” she said.

Looking to the future, Dalangin is clear about her goals. “In a few years I still see myself doing volleyball and just getting better,” she said. Her advice for others is simple: “Working hard little by little… don’t give up.”

With her focus and determination, Ava Nalla Dalangin is proving she belongs at the varsity level—and Golden Valley volleyball has a promising freshman ready to help lead the way.

About the Contributor

Angelina Guerrero, Sports writer

Angelina Guerrero is an 11th grader at Golden Valley High School! She is the Vice President of DFY, involved in Mock Trial, and serves as the secretary of Project Linus. She is bilingual in English, Spanish, and ASL. Outside of school, she participates in boxing and volunteers at homeless and animal shelters, working in their kitchens. In school, she has a strong interest in sports photography, spotlight articles, and movie reviews. Her passion for these topics stems from her love for photography, especially sports, which she finds exciting to capture, as well as her enthusiasm for movies and staying up-to-date on the latest releases. For Angelina, student journalism is a platform to express her creativity and speak about anything that sparks her interest, while meeting new people and attending events with friends to write articles afterward is one of her favorite experiences. She has a deep love for music, knows a lot about different bands, and is always listening to music, as well as having an interest in playing electric guitar and learning piano. In her free time, she enjoys drawing and continues to read all of the Hunger Games books and watch the movies. Angelina is a passionate, driven individual who embraces every opportunity to learn, create, and connect with others, both in and out of school.