Deja Sweeney played volleyball for the Panthers in 2003 and 2004 and helped lead City to an overall combined 29-10 record, two 2nd place finishes in the Bay Valley Conference Gold Division (19-5 combined Conference record) and a 7th place finish at the 2004 California State Championship.  She was a 2-time All-Conference Selection, 2-Time Conference MVP, All-Northern California Selection, and 2-time All-State Selection.  She was ranked 13th out of all California JC players as a freshman.  As a sophomore, she was ranked #4, was an AVCA 1st Team Two-Year College All-American, MVP of the SJ Delta Tournament, and the SCC Outstanding Woman Award winner.

Prior to coming to Sac City, Deja was a 4-year letter winner at Natomas high school.  She was the Most Improved player as a freshman, MVP of the Benicia Tournament her sophomore year, was an Academic Athlete Award winner as a junior, and as a senior an All-League Selection and a member of the All Star team of Sacramento.  After SCC, she attended Baylor University and was a Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient her junior and senior year. 

After college Deja went overseas and tried out for a few professional teams.  When she returned after graduation she started coaching in Dallas, TX and has coached the MADFROG volleyball club for 10 years and is currently the recruiting coordinator for high school athletes.

Deja’s favorite coach and closest friend is SCC Volleyball coach, Laurie Nash, because it was her way of coaching, teaching and support of her athletes that brought out the best in her.  She helped mold me into a player that had an opportunity to play at a big school.  She says if she could have played 4 seasons at SCC, it would have been a complete experience in her volleyball career.  She also thanks her mom for the support, no matter win or lose, she was there at every game until I left California.  She knew how much I truly loved this game.