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2007-2008
Antelope Valley Girl's
By ERIC BACA 
Valley Press Staff Writer
A three-day, cross-country trip to the Midwest two weeks ago ended with Novelli accepting a scholarship offer from Truman University and, in matter of days, flew back to begin taking classes at the Missouri campus.
"Everything happened so fast," Margaret Neill, Paraclete High School athletic director and volleyball coach, said. "She actually got the call and actually had to leave the same day, and she was so excited, and we were all so happy for her. It's great to finally see her get this."
That level of committment, according to Neill, is not a recent development in her charachter.
Instead, Neill insists, it was something she always counted on.
"She worked so hard," Neill said. "She had one of the best work ethic of kids I've worked with in a really long time. She was always a team player. She was such a sponge and always tried to do what you asked her to do."
What the Bulldogs have asked Novelli to do is simple: help them win a national championship .
The Division II volleyball program finished eighth in the nation with a 12-1 conference record, good enough for first place in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association East division.
But Novelli's decision to attend Truman was not solely dependent on the strength of its volleyball program. The three-year varsity starter is also pursuing her degree in nursing, which she will be working towards while playing for the Bulldogs.
"I just get so excited when I see that (my former players) can get their education paid for," Neill said.
Neill plans to make the trip to see Novelli play.
"I always like to see my kids play," she said.
For the past two seasons, Novelli has played for Pierce College in Woodland Hills, where she won back-to-back Western State Conference Championship, the school's seventh straight. With Novelli on the roster, the Lady Brahmas amassed a 53-9 overall record, losing only one conference game in that same time. Collegiate accolades to date include most improved player and western conference honorable mention.
While at Paraclete, Novelli was named to the Alpha League All-first team in 2004 and 2005, as well as being name Spirit's Athlete of the Year.
