Cal State LA Athletics

2021: Had another strong season for the Golden Eagles in her final year with the program. Led the team and the California Collegiate Athletic Association in digs with 454. Was seventh in the conference in digs per set with 3.91. Also recorded 15 service aces and was third on the team with 134 set assists. Played in 30 matches and a team-high 116 sets. Earned All-CCAA honorable mention recognition. Recorded a career-high 37 digs against Humboldt State on Sept. 17, eclipsing her previous best of 35. Had 20 or more digs in seven matches and reached double figures in digs 27 times. Had a season-high of two service aces in five matches. Also excelled academically once again. Earned CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 honors for a second time and earned 2021-22 CCAA All-Academic honors. Also received 2021 CCAA Fall Academic Honor Roll recognition. For her career, played in 114 matches and 435 sets. Had 1,695 digs, 59 service aces and 403 set assists. Finished her career No. 1 in program history in digs.

2020: Earned 2020-21 CCAA All-Academic honors and also received 2020 CCAA Fall Academic Honor Roll recognition. Team did not compete due to COVID-19.

2019: Had a third outstanding season for Cal State LA’s indoor team in the fall and earned All-CCAA honorable mention. Was second on the team in digs with 367, third in service aces with a career-best 26 and fourth in set assists with 90. Reached double figures in digs 20 times. Had a season-high 20 digs in a four-set match against Rockhurst on Sept. 6. Matched that total in a five-set match against Central Washington on Sept. 12 and also had a season-high four service aces. Received 2019-20 California Collegiate Athletic Association All-Academic honors and was also part of the CCAA 2019 Fall All-Academic Team. Also had a strong third season with Cal State LA’s beach volleyball team in the spring (2020). Had a 3-3 record playing at No. 4 and No. 5 pairs.

2018: Had a second outstanding season for the Golden Eagles in the fall in indoor. Was the only player on the team to play in all 28 matches and 107 sets. Led the team and was second in the CCAA with 482 digs and averaged 4.50 digs per set. Was also third on the team in set assists with 95 and sixth on the team in service aces with 13. Had a career-high 35 digs in a four-set win over Concordia on Sept. 1. That is the most in a single match since 2002 and third in program history. Also had 30 digs in a four-set win over Cal State Monterey Bay on Sept. 21. Reached double figures in digs 26 times. Earned CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 honors. Also earned a CCAA All-Academic Award for 2018-19 and a CCAA Fall Academic Award for 2018. Was a major part of the Golden Eagles’ beach volleyball team (2019) and a regular member of the top-five pairs.

2017: Had a tremendous debut for Cal State LA with the indoor team in the fall. Was the team’s libero for all 27 matches and was one of the conference’s top freshmen. Was one of only two players who played in all 100 sets for the Golden Eagles. Led the team with 392 digs and was also fourth on the team with 84 set assists. Also contributed five service aces. Had a season-high 24 digs in a four-set win over Cal State San Marcos on Nov. 10 and had 21 digs in a come-from-behind five-set win at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Sept. 23. Recorded back-to-back aces to serve out a four-set win over Sonoma State in a CCAA Tournament match in San Francisco on Nov. 16. Was a key member of Cal State LA’s beach volleyball team in the spring (2018) and routinely played on one of the top pairs in her first season for the Golden Eagles on the sand. Earned a CCAA All-Academic Award for 2017-18.

At Bayamon Military Academy: Earned academic honors and graduated from high school with High honors and a 3.80 grade point average. Received three Most Valuable Player and five All-Star awards in high school. Won the Best Libero and Best Digger awards with the Puerto Rico National Team in Norceca U-20 Tournament.

Personal: Daughter of Jose Berdecia and Jessenia Castellano. Majoring in biology. Enjoys going to the beach and road trips. Lists playing for Puerto Rico’s national Sub-20 team as her most exciting experience in sports. Said it made her proud to represent Puerto Rico. Notes she enjoys helping people and working out at the gym.