University of New Mexico volleyball player and former Irvine Valley star and state champion in indoor and beach volleyball Marisa Doran was named to the All-Mountain West SAAC Community Service Team, the Mountain West announced Wednesday evening.
Doran, a senior, was New Mexico's selection to the team, which features one student-athlete from each of the 11 full members of the Mountain West who went above and beyond helping to promote and participate in community service activities.
Doran has volunteered in the Ronald McDonald House for the past year and currently volunteers three hours each week at Presbyterian Hospital.
Her community service is on top of being a captain for the Lobos' beach volleyball team during the spring semester. She also played a key role during the fall for UNM's indoor volleyball team.
Doran, who was a scholar athlete at Irvine Valley, earned a similar community service honor at IVC, being named the Orange Empire Conference Character Champion award winner at the end of her freshman year in 2013-14.
The award is given to the student athlete who displays sportsmanship, respect, caring, fairness, civility, honesty, integrity and responsibility shown through a specific action, ideally directed toward an opponent during competition.
The criteria also includes the action of putting the team and teammates before oneself while acting as a positive role model.
Doran was selected as the OEC's Female Character Champion after displaying her ability to juggle school, indoor and sand volleyball, as well as community service.
As a pre-med student, Doran volunteered at the Children's Hospital of Orange County in the patient hospitality area.
Doran was also part of the clinical care internship program at Hoag Hospital.
She also volunteered with the City of Tustin, where she worked with volleyball camps and clinics.
She helped the women's volleyball team win two straight Orange Empire Conference titles in her two years at Irvine Valley and finish third and then first in the state. The 2014 team ended with a record of 27-0 and captured the program's first indoor state title.
She was named first team all-conference, all-region and all-state.
And in beach volleyball, she helped the Lasers win back-to-back state titles as well as capturing a state pairs title with teammate Kobi Pekich.
At the end of her sophomore year in 2014-15 she was picked as Irvine Valley's female scholar athlete of the year and honored by the Exchange Club of Irvine.
The All-MW SAAC Community Service Team, which is part of the league's Community Service Challenge, recognizes the accomplishments of student-athletes beyond the field of competition, especially in regards to community service. The complete list of members can be found below.
David Walker, Wrestling – U.S. Air Force Academy
Cassidy Edwards, Softball – Boise State University
Madison Porter, Women's Tennis – Colorado State University
Brooke Legaux, Women's Volleyball – Fresno State
T Moe, Women's Basketball – University of Nevada
Marisa Doran, Women's Volleyball – University of New Mexico
Ellison Grove, Women's Track & Field – San Diego State University
Sara Northam, Women's Soccer – San José State University
Emily Casale, Women's Soccer – UNLV
Devin Wright, Men's Track & Field – Utah State University
Samantha Zavala, Women's Swimming & Diving – University of Wyoming
