By Rick Assad
Nerves were a huge part of the first two sets for the Burbank High girls’ volleyball team, but those early jitters eventually subsided and were replaced with confidence and vigor.
The fifth and deciding set proved extremely elusive for the Bulldogs as visiting San Jacinto Valley Academy survived in a close and exciting clash, 25-17, 25-19, 16-25, 17-25, 15-6 in a CIF Southern Section Division VIII quarterfinal match on Tuesday night.
Senior middle blocker Madison Yosh, junior opposite hitter/middle blocker Natalie Eguiazarian, sophomore outside hitter Emerson Chong and sophomore outside hitter/opposite hitter Samantha Yosh, gave everything they had but it simply wasn’t enough.
Junior outside hitter/middle blocker Saralynn Schouten proved the biggest difference as she was seemingly everywhere on the floor for the Wolves.
If a point was needed, Schouten provided it. If a ball needed to be saved, Schouten did that and if passing was required, Schouten did that as well.
But where Schouten truly shined and carried the evening was on the offensive side of the ledger as she contributed countless kills.
Sabrina Sullivan is Burbank’s first-year head coach and saw her team gather itself midway through the match.
“I think the nerves hit us in the first two sets, and it became hard to settle in. The third set was where we hit our stride and started to play our brand of volleyball again,” she stated. “We were enjoying the fight and celebrating every point.”
In the fifth game, the Bulldogs (16-18-2 and 8-2 for second place in the Crest League) led 2-0 but that advantage disappeared as the Wolves (23-6 and 10-4 for second in the Mountain Pass League) pulled ahead 8-3.
During this stretch, Schouten delivered six kills that tied it at 2-2, and saw the Wolves lead 3-2 and 5-2 and 6-3.
Schouten also chipped in with two service winners that made it 7-3 and 8-3.
A push from sophomore Madison Yosh trimmed the lead to 9-5 but Schouten’s spike made it 11-5.
Senior Olivia Doran’s push made it 12-5 in favor of San Jacinto Valley Academy and a tap from Doran made it 14-5. Schouten’s kill saw the visitors claim the set and match.
“They [San Jacinto Valley Academy] are a good team, and they were starting to pick up on what we were doing,” Sullvan said of the match.
The third game saw Eguiazarian add a push for a 5-4 lead and a block from Chong evened it at 10-10.
Chong’s spike made it 13-11 and Chong’s push increased Burbank’s lead to 19-11.
Eguiazarian’s push made it 22-14 and a kill from sophomore setter Farryn Hall made it 25-16.
Burbank started fast in the fourth set as junior defensive specialist Sevana Abrahamian had an ace that made it 4-1 and a kill from Madison Yosh increased the cushion to 8-3.
Junior middle blocker Gabriella Jarrah added a block for a 12-5 margin and Samantha Yosh tossed in back-to-back service aces that made it 14-6 and 15-6.
Another service winner from Madison Yosh saw the Bulldogs sprint ahead 17-6 and a kill from Chong extended the lead to 20-8.
Eguiazarian’s kill made it 22-12 and a push from Eguiazarian made it 23-15.
Hall contributed a push for the set that evened the match at two games apiece.
Sullivan said the team gained confidence and even though the team had a very productive campaign, there are better days ahead.
“We’re a young team and these girls haven’t been in the playoffs before or experienced this kind of pressure,” she offered. “So overall, I’m proud of my girls. We fought back and made it a close game and that’s all you can ask for as a coach.”
The Wolves took control of the first game 5-3 on a kill from Schouten and led 12-9 on a spike from Doran.
Burbank came within 14-10 on a push from Jarrah, but Schouten tossed in a winner to make it 17-11.
A kill from Samantha Yosh saw the Bulldogs get within 18-16 but an ace from freshman Linda Shuler made it 22-17 as Burbank asked for a time out.
Consecutive tappers from Schouten made it 23-17 and 24-17 and when Shuler chimed in with another ace, the initial set went to the Wolves.
The second set was close throughout as it was knotted at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 on a push from Schouten, 4-4 and 5-5 before Burbank led 7-5 on an ace from Samantha Yosh.
Chong’s winner made it 8-7 in favor of the Bulldogs and it was even at 11-11 on a kill from Samantha Yosh.
San Jacinto Valley Academy pulled ahead 15-14 on a spike from sophomore setter Kamea Lucero and an ace from freshman Marian Farley saw the Wolves bolt in front 19-14.
Schouten’s kill made it 21-16 and before long Schouten’s service winner made it official as the Wolves had a two sets to none lead.
