The following are updates on area athletes at the collegiate level.
Jeanine Deno (Crescenta Valley High, 2004) sophomore guard, Pasadena City College women's basketball: The Lancers are off to a blazing start with Deno serving as the sparkplug.
After winning the San Jose Jaguar Invitational Tournament on Friday, the Lancers extended their season-long win streak to 20 games while keeping their unblemished record intact.
The Lancers (20-0) defeated College of the Canyons, 84-67, in the tournament finale. Deno helped her team reach the finals as she had a team-high 19 points and five three-pointers in the opening game and 23 points and five more three-pointers in the semifinals.
The win streak is five short of the school's longest streak, which was set in 2004-2005, but this is the fastest a PCC team has reached the 20-win plateau.
Through 17 games, Deno leads the team with a 17.4 scoring average, including a season-high of 29 points. The sophomore guard is second on the team with 33 steals and third in assists with 41.
Her heroics included scoring the game-winning basket with 10 seconds left during a 57-55 road victory against Mt. San Jacinto College on Nov. 29 and leading the Lancers with 18 points during a come-from-behind victory against Foothill, 66-57, in the championship game of the 2006 Rose City Classic on Dec. 10.
Last season, Deno was an All-State Second-Team selection and All-South Coast Conference First-Team choice after averaging 14.9 points and leading the state in three-point shooting accuracy at 43%.
Kelly Smiland (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 2005) sophomore outside hitter, California State University, Chico women's volleyball: The Wildcats finished off their best season in years, advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Pacific Regional Tournament on Nov. 10.
They fell to eventual champ UC San Diego, 3-0, in their first regional appearance since 1992.
Still, the season was a success. The Wildcats raced off to their best start in history at 15-1 and finished the season at 21-6 — the most wins for a Chico State team in nearly 13 years. Along the way, the Wildcats won a school-record 11 straight matches.
Smiland was a key reserve for Chico State as she appeared in 41 games. She finished with 83 kills.
Defensively, Smiland recorded 103 digs and nine blocks.
Ramses Barden (Flintridge Prep, 2004) sophomore wide receiver, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo football: Barden was one of four Mustangs selected to the College Sporting News Fabulous Fifty All-American All-Star Team in the Football Championship Subdivision.
The squad is designed to be similar to a real team and capable of taking the field and competing in a game, according to the school's website.
Barden finished the season with 42 catches for 824 yards and five touchdowns.
He was named to the All-Great West Football First-Team for the second consecutive year, as he was Cal Poly's top receiver the past two seasons.
The Mustangs finished this season with a record of 7-4 capped off with a 55-0 shutout victory against Savannah State.
