EDITOR’S NOTE: We prohibit the use of bots and any other artificial methods of voting. Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll. Please note: Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) girls Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from Oct. 30 to Nov. 4.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email and any votes after 5 p.m. on Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Julia Arrizon, Alhambra water polo: Arrizon, a junior, played valiantly in Alhambra’s triple-overtime loss to Terra Linda in the NCS Division II playoffs. She scored three goals, giving her a season total of 76.
Paige Bennett, Foothill volleyball: The senior had 22 kills, 14 digs and 10 service points in Foothill’s 3-1 victory over Pleasanton rival Amador Valley in the NCS Division I semifinal. Bennett then helped Foothill win the NCS title 3-2 vs. Marin Catholic.
Katelyn Cook, Archbishop Mitty volleyball: Cook, a senior, helped lead the Monarchs to a 3-1 victory in the CCS Open title game after Mitty dropped the first set. Cook had a number of important kills as Mitty locked up another section crown.
Michelle Ho, Dougherty Valley golf: Ho, a junior, helped Dougherty Valley win the NCS Division I team golf title after she shot a 71 on Monday. Dougherty Valley finished with a team score of 413, with Monte Vista coming in second with 421.
Ariya Kaushek, Menlo School cross country: Kaushek, a sophomore, won the WBAL girls championship, finishing the day with a 18.53.5 time. That helped Menlo School finish third as a team, which secured a spot in the CCS championships.
Emma Moreno, Gilroy field hockey: Moreno, a sophomore, scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Presentation. That was her fourth goal of the season.
Leah Nai, Aragon volleyball: Nai, a senior, led the Dons in blocks with three in Aragon’s 3-1 CCS Division II championship victory. She also had five kills and one dig as the Dons defeated Woodside at Palo Alto High School.
Varsha Ramachandran, Valley Christian golf: Ramachandran, a junior, shot 3-under 69 at Laguna Seca Golf Ranch to win the CCS’s individual championship by a stroke. Valley Christian also won the team title.
Nicole Steiner, Los Gatos volleyball: Steiner, a junior, led the Wildcats in kills with 11 in the CCS Division I title game against Salinas. Steiner also letters in basketball and track and field.
Sabrina Zanetto, St. Francis cross country: Zanetto, a senior, had the second-fastest time at the WCAL championship at 18.32.9. Her performance helped the Lancers win the WCAL team title over Mitty 28-23.
