Emmie Ramirez and Niya Bumbaca earn 2026 GCC Honors
4/7/2026 8:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
FRESNO, CA--- The Golden Coast Conference released its 2026 regular season award winners on Tuesday morning, with California Baptist University earning the Newcomer of the Year and two athletes on the All-GCC teams.
Emmie Ramirez was named the GCC Newcomer of the Year after transferring from Cal as a true sophomore. Ramirez is just the third GCC major award winner in program history and the first to do so in eight years, joining Kira O'Donnell and Hannah Evans, who earned Newcomer of the Year and Player of the Year in 2018 and 2016, respectively.
Ramirez led the GCC in total points with 121, finishing 16 points ahead of her teammate, Niya Bumbaca. Ramirez led the team with 70 goals and was second on the team in assists with 51. She also led the team with 46 steals, the most in the conference. Ramirez was named GCC Player of the Week twice during the regular season and recorded 15 hat tricks on the season. She would have a career-high five goals on four separate occasions, including in a critical road win at Pacific to earn the 4th seed for the Lancers. In addition to being named Newcomer of the Year, Ramirez became the 10th Lancer to earn a spot on the All-GCC First Team.
Niya Bumbaca also earned a spot on the All-GCC list, taking a spot on the All-GCC Second Team. The junior from Sacramento, California, earned an increased role on Julie Snodgrass's offense in her third season and would finish the regular season second in both points and assists. Bumbaca would set the single-season program record for assists with 61 and would be second on the Lancers in goals with 44. Bumbaca posted seven hat tricks on the season, including a career-high five goals in a GCC win over Azusa Pacific.
Ramirez, Bumbaca, and the Lancers will be in action this Friday for the GCC Tournament against the 5-seeded Pacific Tigers in Fresno, CA.
Emmie Ramirez was named the GCC Newcomer of the Year after transferring from Cal as a true sophomore. Ramirez is just the third GCC major award winner in program history and the first to do so in eight years, joining Kira O'Donnell and Hannah Evans, who earned Newcomer of the Year and Player of the Year in 2018 and 2016, respectively.
Ramirez led the GCC in total points with 121, finishing 16 points ahead of her teammate, Niya Bumbaca. Ramirez led the team with 70 goals and was second on the team in assists with 51. She also led the team with 46 steals, the most in the conference. Ramirez was named GCC Player of the Week twice during the regular season and recorded 15 hat tricks on the season. She would have a career-high five goals on four separate occasions, including in a critical road win at Pacific to earn the 4th seed for the Lancers. In addition to being named Newcomer of the Year, Ramirez became the 10th Lancer to earn a spot on the All-GCC First Team.
Niya Bumbaca also earned a spot on the All-GCC list, taking a spot on the All-GCC Second Team. The junior from Sacramento, California, earned an increased role on Julie Snodgrass's offense in her third season and would finish the regular season second in both points and assists. Bumbaca would set the single-season program record for assists with 61 and would be second on the Lancers in goals with 44. Bumbaca posted seven hat tricks on the season, including a career-high five goals in a GCC win over Azusa Pacific.
Ramirez, Bumbaca, and the Lancers will be in action this Friday for the GCC Tournament against the 5-seeded Pacific Tigers in Fresno, CA.
Players Mentioned
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water PoloMen's Basketball Highlights vs GCU
Saturday, February 08
2023 VB Hype Video
Thursday, August 31
