The reality is that the young Burbank High girls’ volleyball team is only going to get better over the course of the next two years as a group of sophomores have a very strong presence.
But the Bulldogs might actually be able to compete for a CIF title this year, having been drawn in the eighth of the 10 playoff divisions.
Tuesday night the Bulldogs, making their first playoff appearance since 2019, looked strong at times and was able to pull off a 25-23, 25-22, 25-21 first-round sweep over Colony of Ontario.
Burbank will move on to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 8 playoffs against Riverside Prep on Thursday at a site to be determined Wednesday morning by a coin flip.
The Bulldogs (15-17-2) were never in total command, but took control when it mattered most.
“We had a game plan coming in, knowing what we wanted to accomplish and thinking about what they were going to throw at us,” Burbank coach Sabrina Sullivan said. “I thought we executed that really well. We served really well.”
Burbank sophomore setter Farryn Hall gave her team a big emotional lift in the first game when she looked as if she was going to set up a teammate only to knock the ball over the net herself, surprising the visiting Titans.
That point made it 21-17 for Burbank.
Sophomore outside hitter Emerson Chong later gave Burbank the first game with one of her nine kills.
Chong was strong in the second game, as one of her kills helped lift Burbank from a 20-19 deficit.
Madi Yosh also had a key kill late in the second game for Burbank.
Serving specialist Frankie Kim delivered an ace to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 advantage.
Burbank took an 18-17 lead in the third game on a kill from Gabriella Jarrah.
But Colony grabbed the next two points.
Chong then got Burbank back on level terms.
Burbank was able to finish off Colony at the end with four consecutive points in which the visitors failed to return the serve.
“We’re in a good spot. We’re ranked right in the middle of the division, so who knows what kind of team we are going to see next, but I think we’re ready,” Sullivan said.
