Rachel Bustillos, a two-year sophomore indoor and beach volleyball player for Rio Hondo College, signed her National Letter of Intent April 17 and will be transferring to Bethel College in Kansas in the Fall of 2017 where she will continue playing indoor volleyball at the next level. Alongside Bustillos, teammates Carleigh Cruz and Paula Alferez both also committed to Hope International University in Fullerton.

Bustillos began playing indoor volleyball for Rio Hondo in 2015 and then began playing beach volleyball for Rio as soon as the program was implemented. When asked how she feels in regards to continuing her academic and athletic career at the next level, she stated “I’m excited and anxious to see how everything is going to go and where I can end up.”

When asked what she will miss the most about Rio Hondo, Bustillos said, “The overall program here was a good one, we had a great coaching staff and an awesome team. I had a great time here at Rio and I’m going to miss everyone here.”

Bustillos will be going to Bethel with the goal of getting a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She is currently undecided on her specific career choice and will need to narrow her decision down due to the large umbrella that social work has.

“I’m just so proud of her and I couldn’t ask for more, she’s really shown me that she wants this and she’s done her homework as far as putting the steps in order to get where she needs to go, and she’s done it. She’s just an awesome kid, I couldn’t be a more blessed mom” said Maria Arciniega, mother of Bustillos.

While Bustillos is headed for the East Coast in the Fall, Alferez and Cruz both formally committed to going to Hope International University in Fullerton in the Fall of 2017 as well. Alferez will be playing beach volleyball for Hope International, and she is the first athlete in the newly implemented beach volleyball program at Rio Hondo to get scouted to the university level.

“It’s a pretty big accomplishment, considering that me and my partner were also the first team to make it to the state championships for Rio as well, and it kind of just kicked off our career from there. I’m really proud of me and my partner” said Alferez regarding her feelings about committing to Hope International University.

When asked if she is ready for the next level of volleyball, Alferez said “Yes, I think that I am. I mean, two-years of prepping here at Rio, I feel pretty good so I think I’m prepared for that next step of the collegiate level. I’m going to miss my coach, the team, and a lot of the professors here that were very helpful in furthering my education.”

Finally, Cruz, who also committed to Hope international University, will be playing both indoor and beach volleyball in Fullerton next Fall.

“Yes, I’m ready for the next level. I love competition, and I’m very self-motivated. I love learning new techniques and I’m ready to compete at a four year university” said Cruz, full of excitement as she is completely ready to continue her academic and athletic career.

She continued “I’m definitely going to miss the coaching staff that I got to work with for the past two years. They have taught me so much, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. Also, my teammates that turned into best friends. I wish them the best of luck with their future endeavors.”

When asking head coach Teddi Esko how she feels in regards to receiving her first beach volleyball transfers, she said “I’m elated. It was really exciting to have the opportunity to start the beach volleyball program here just in general, and to make history for Rio Hondo starting a new sport, it’s just exciting stuff.”

The beach volleyball program took some years to develop at Rio Hondo, and the program is still very new here with it only being the second season Rio has participated competitively against other colleges in the area.

“The signing days are one of our highlights with our program, it just shows all the hard work the girls have done here in the classroom and on the court is paying off. They’re going to get that degree in hand within the next couple of years and that’s what it’s all about, that’s why you go to college; to get a degree,” said Esko.

With two of her players committing to a local university, Esko said she plans on going to Hope International to see Cruz and Alferez play, but can still watch Bustillos games on the internet via livestream as well.

With the volleyball program continuing to grow at Rio Hondo, and with these transfers, Esko believes the program will only expand from here and hopes that more incoming students are convinced to come to Rio Hondo to play for their program.