By Rick Assad
It’s really going to be wildly entertaining when the local girls’ volleyball teams take the floor this season because Burroughs High, Burbank and Providence are all going to be good.
There are several talented players, and the latter two schools have brand new head coaches.
The veteran is Edwin Real, who has been the Bears’ head coach for more than two decades and is cautiously optimistic.
“Expectations are hard to predict being in a new league [Arroyo in the recently formed Rio-Pacific Conference]. Every match will be competitive,” he said. “We have our sights on making the [CIF Southern Section] playoffs, and the bonus would be to win the conference championship.”
A season ago, Burroughs went 26-9 in all matches and 14-1 for first place in the Pacific League.
The Bears will not have three outstanding players due to graduation. They are Khloe Pavia, who was the Player of the League and is playing volleyball at the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Also gone because of graduation are Savana Lay and Sienna Lay, who were two key members.
Burroughs defeated visiting Claremont in three sets in a Division III first-round match but lost to visiting Corona Del Mar in five sets in the next round last season.
There are nine seniors on the squad and include Zoe Davis at middle blocker, Trinity Taylan at outside hitter, Emma De Cunzo Steinglass at defensive specialist, Amanda Meserve at opposite hitter, Victoria Acevedo at setter, Joanna Brain at defensive specialist and Paige Rowan at opposite hitter.
The rest of the upperclassmen are Alina Abrahamian at outside hitter and Hailey Collins at opposite hitter.
Six are juniors and they are ready for action and include the gifted Amelia Walsh at outside hitter, Alex Hammeke at opposite hitter, Lily Noguchi at setter, Kylee Beveridge at defensive specialist, Madeline Bixler at middle blocker and Aaliyah Shinn at defensive specialist.
The only sophomore on this talented and deep team is Lola Juarez at setter.
Real has a nice blend of experience and youth and it should reap benefits.
“I like the mix of seniors, juniors to go along with the lone sophomore,” he stated. “I like how they are competitive in practice and try to get along as a big group. We’re hoping for a successful season.”
Sabrina Sullivan is the new Bulldogs head coach and knows Burbank carved out a 12-20 record and went 6-8 for fifth place in league action.
Sullivan is looking to be better this season, and her team is in the Crest League of the Rio-Pacific Conference.
“I think we’ll do well this year and surprise some people. This team has a solid chance to win the league and make a deep playoff run,” she said. “That’s our ultimate goal.”
Seniors include middle blocker Madison Yosh, outside hitter Lana Kang, and defensive specialist Frankie Kim.
The juniors on the team are middle blocker Natalie Eguizarian, middle blocker Gabriella Jarrah and defensive specialist Anu Kivijian. The sophomore is middle blocker Samantha Yosh.
Also on the team are Hailey Kim, Madison Bui, Sevana Abrahamian, Elisa Ruiz, Mona Gasparyan, Gabie Ilasco and Farryn Hall.
“Some players to look out for are two captains: Madison Yosh and Emerson Chong,” said Sullican who spent time on the Burroughs bench alongside Real and his staff.
The Pioneers also have a brand new head coach and she is Meghan Mullinix.
“I really like the work ethic and camaraderie of this team this season,” she stated. “Our players have been working hard in the gym, and we’re excited to continue growing as a team and compete throughout league play.”
A season ago, Providence went 22-13 and 11-2 for second place in the Independence League.
In the postseason, the Pioneers moved to the Division V quarterfinals after beating visiting Rim of the World in four sets, taking out host Lakewood in five sets but falling in three sets to visiting Wiseburn-Da Vinci.
Nine players are seniors but one key upperclassmen is out for the season with an injury and she is outside hitter/middle hitter Kailey Ho, who will be the team manager of the Pioneers who will compete in the Liberty League.
The other seniors are Zoey Barrows, opposite hitter/middle hitter Sydney Forlano, Sarah Swinhart, Natalie Avanesian, Nasiyah Chapman, Lori Sepilian and outside hitter/defensive specialist Emily Steward.
The other members of the team are junior Melania Adjamian, junior Danielle Aves and junior Sofia Foster and junior Elivia Moira Buhay and sophomore Olivia Ricardo.
