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Tag: Emerson Chong

  • Burroughs Girls Volleyball Downs Rival Burbank In Three Sets

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    Burroughs swept visiting Burbank in the Pacific League finale, but it was hard-fought. (Photo by Xavier Dubon)

    By Rick Assad

    On Senior Night seven upperclassmen started for the Burroughs High girls’ volleyball team on Tuesday evening versus visiting and longtime city rival Burbank.

    They were middle blocker Khloe Pavia, outside hitter Sienna Lay, setter Savana Lay, opposite hitter Isabela Hanson, opposite hitter Leila Lazaar, defensive specialist Andrea Slobig and setter Talia Grandinetti and each had a hand in the 25-12, 25-18, 25-21 sweep in the Pacific League finale.

    Up next is the CIF Southern Section playoffs for those teams selected.

    Pavia and Sienna Lay stood out offensively but the others contributed in many ways.

    Edwin Real is the Burroughs head coach and enjoyed what he witnessed.

    “It was fun watching the kids perform together. No matter who we had on the court, they all had fun on and off the court,” he said. “It was good to see Burbank playing hard until the end.”

    The Bears (23-8 and 13-1 in league for first place) assumed control of the third set by pulling ahead 5-1 on an ace from Slobig.

    The effort was there for the Bulldogs, but the Bears prevailed in three sets in the last Pacific League match of the season. (Photo by Xavier Dubon)

    Savanna Lay’s push made it 8-5 and when Lazaar tossed in a perfectly timed block, the home team forged ahead 13-8.

    A kill from junior middle blocker Zoe Davis handed the Bears a 17-12 cushion and Savanna Lay’s back-to-back service winners made it 19-12 as the Bulldogs (12-20 and 6-8 in league for fifth place) needed a stoppage in play.

    Lazaar’s kill saw the Bears march ahead 23-19 and Lazaar’s clean stuff made it 24-18.

    Sophomore outside hitter Amelia Walsh’s spike made the set and match official.

    The opening game once again witnessed the Bears sprinting to a quick lead, this time 7-1 on a winner from Davis.

    Sienna Lay’s kill made it 11-3 and a Davis service ace extended the margin to 14-4. Sienna Lay’s spike then made it 17-7 and her ace pushed the Bears in front 18-7.

    “I thought our energy was great and it was quite a way to end the league part of the season,” Lay stated. “We’re super ready to go into the playoffs and we’re hyped.”

    Savana Lay’s service winner made it 21-10 as Burbank requested and received a stoppage in play.

    Savana Lay then added an ace to make it 23-10 and the game was over when Pavia hammered home a spike.

    “It was super fun to end my Pacific League career with a win, especially against our rivals,” Pavia said. “I loved starting with all the other seniors. It was a really great moment.”

    Burbank’s Emerson Chong gets off the floor for the point, but Burroughs’ Alex Hammeke tries to block the shot. (Photo by Xavier Dubon)

    The middle set saw the Bears jump ahead 8-4 on a kill from Pavia and 11-7 on a winner from middle blocker Alex Hammeke.

    After Hanson’s push the lead swelled to 14-9 and then 16-11 on a kill from Pavia.

    Lazaar’s winner made it 18-11 in favor of the Bears.

    The Bulldogs rallied as a kill from junior middle blocker Madison Yosh sliced the lead to 18-12.

    Yosh’s service winner trimmed the deficit to 21-17 but a kill from Lazaar made it 22-17.

    Carmen Camacho-Platas is Burbank’s first year head coach and was pleased with the effort and focus of her squad.

    “I’m happy that the girls were able to gain more control as the match went on,” she said. “I felt Burroughs played a stronger match than the first time we saw them and that we improved as well.” 

    Camacho-Platas praised some of her younger players and some of her more experienced players.

    “Our two freshmen, [outside hitter/right side hitter] Emerson Chong and [middle blocker/right side hitter] Samantha Yosh got some great kills against them,” she said. “I was also proud of how our seniors, [setter] Grace O’Connor, [outside hitter] Anya Oganyan and [outside hitter] Reagan Shchur played. Our fourth senior, [outside hitter/right side hitter] Lorin Azizian was passing really well before she got injured in the first set “

    Camacho-Platas added: “Anya was able to get some great passes and kills that energized her teammates,” he continued. “Our [junior] libero Chloe Gallager was in the line of fire for a lot of strong swings from Burroughs side, and she played good defense by covering her teammates. I was especially excited to see the girls having fun and playing hard in the last set.” 

    Junior outside hitter Trinity Taylan added two points for the Bears as it became 23-17 and 24-17 before Savana Lay’s push sealed the second game.

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    Rick Assad

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  • Burbank Defeats Hoover In Five Sets

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    Burbank is ready to receive the Hoover serve in a Pacific League match. (Photo by Rick Assad)

    By Rick Assad

    Two minutes shy of two hours is what it took for the Burbank High girls’ volleyball team to vanquish host Hoover in five sets in a Pacific League match on Tuesday afternoon.

    The match went in favor of the Bulldogs who took the first two sets before the Tornadoes rallied to claim the next two.

    Both teams played well, and each showed signs that more good things are in store.

    Officially, the scores were 25-18, 25-14, 20-25, 22-25, 15-11.

    Carmen Camacho-Platas is the Burbank varsity head coach.

    “I thought Hoover was scrappy and had a lot of hustle. I told my girls right before the fifth set that so far, Hoover wants this win more than they did and it was showing in the dropped sets,” she said. “I think that lit a fire which led to them upping their intensity to win the last set. I was happy to see us running our middles much more than we have in other matches, so we’re making progress.”

    The decider was tied at 2-2 before the visitors went on a 7-1 run to lead 9-3 on an ace from senior outside hitter Lorin Azizian.

    Burbank’s advantage became 10-5 on a kill from sophomore opposite hitter Natalie Eguiazarian but Hoover charged back and came within 12-9 on a push out of bounds from senior setter Grace O’Connor.

    It’s a few minutes before game time for the Bulldogs who faced the Tornadoes and won across five sets. (Photo by Rick Assad)

    The Bulldogs righted the ship and pulled ahead 14-10 on a spike from Azizian and Azizian’s blast clinched the set and match.

    Burbank (6-9 and 1-1 in league) seized a 7-1 lead in the opening game as freshman outside hitter Emerson Chong nailed a winner.

    Junior middle blocker Madison Yosh’s push extended the cushion to 10-3 and Chong’s ace made it 12-5.

    Yosh’s service winner made it 15-7 and Azizian’s spike saw the Bulldogs race to a 17-11 advantage.

    Erika Kirakosyan’s bullet witnessed Hoover come within 18-13 as Burbank asked for stoppage in play.

    Chong’s service ace handed the Bulldogs a 21-14 lead and Chong’s service winner made it 23-14. The initial set went to Burbank on a kill from Azizian.

    The Bulldogs grabbed the second set after leading 4-2 on an ace from junior libero Chloe Gallagher and back-to-back aces from Gallagher that made it 6-2 and 7-2 as Hoover (0-4 and 0-2 in league) asked for a breather.

    Yosh’s kill made it 11-3, Yosh’s stuff extended the lead to 14-6 and Yosh added three service winners to make it 17-6 as Hoover requested a time out.

    Gallagher’s consecutive aces made it 23-12 and 24-12 and a tapper from Yosh finalized the game.

    Burbank controlled the early portion of the third set as the visitors led 5-2 on an ace from Azizian.

    Hoover fought back and drew within 8-6 on a kill from Isabella Trejo-Galvez. The Bulldogs led 10-8 on a winner from Azizian and scurried in front 15-12 on a push from Eguiazarian.

    A kill from Hoover’s Sona Yegnanyan made it 18-17 in favor of the home team and Yegnanyan’s service ace increased the lead to 21-18.

    Trejo-Galvez’s ace made it 24-20 and a hitting miscue by Azizian saw Hoover win its first set.

    Burbank was in control early and often during the fourth set as it led 7-4 on a kill from O’Connor.

    It became 12-8 on an ace from Azizian but Hoover charged ahead 16-15 on an ace from Yegnanyan.

    Harutyunyan’s back-to-back aces made it 21-18 and 22-18 as Burbank asked for time.

    Kirakosyan’s stuff saw the Tornadoes inch within 24-22 and Peyton Braun’s service ace sealed the deal as each team won two sets.

    Stephanie Yost is the head coach and Director of Volleyball Operations and was equally pleased.

    “I love that the girls dug deep today,” she said. “The girls trusted Coach Carmen and played great under her instruction and made the corrections that were needed to get the win.”

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    Rick Assad

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  • Girls Volleyball Preview: Burroughs, Burbank, Providence All Look For Upside

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    Burroughs girls’ volleyball should have another productive season. (Photo courtesy Edwin Real)

    By Rick Assad

    One of the three local girls’ varsity volleyball teams should be competitive and two are having it somewhat tough.

    Burroughs High puts a solid product on the floor year in and year out while Burbank has been decent and Providence is currently rebuilding.

    The Bears are coming off an 18-13 season, 6-4 for third place in the Pacific League and went to CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs and beat Northwood in five sets in the opening round and falling to Millikan in four games in the next round.

    Edwin Real has been the Bears’ coach for some time and has seven seniors at his disposal.

    “Our overall expectation is to play as a team, make a good playoff run and finish at the top of the Pacific League,” he said of the club.

    There is much for Real to be excited about this season.

    “Our strengths are serving, passing, hitting and setting and are good and consistent,” he noted. “Our offense has been working well together.”

    The seniors include outside hitter Sienna Lay, middle blocker Khloe Pavia, opposite hitter Leila Lazaar, setter Talia Grandinetti, setter Savana Lay, opposite hitter Izzy Hanson and defensive specialist Andrea Slobig.

    Burbank’s team has potential, but it has to be realized under Stephanie Yosh, the first-year coach. (Photo courtesy Janet Landrum)

    Lazaar and Hanson are both making the jump from the junior varsity.

    There are four juniors on the team, and they are outside hitter Zoe Davis, outside hitter Trinity Taylan, defensive specialist Joanna Brain and defensive specialist Emma De Cunzo Steinglass.

    The rest of the team includes three sophomores and they are outside hitter Amelia Walsh, outside hitter Kylee Beveridge and middle blocker Alex Hammeke.

    “Khloe, Savana, Sienna have all improved over the summer, as well as Emma and Zoe,” Real pointed out. 

    The Bulldogs have a first-year coach in Stephanie Yosh, and she has four seniors on the team to provide leadership.

    They include outside hitter Anya Oganian, outside hitter Lorin Azizian, outside hitter setter Reagan Shchur and setter Grace O’Connor  

    Five juniors dot the roster and they are outside hitter Lana Kang, libero Chloe Gallagher, defensive specialist Frankie Kim, middle hitter Madison Yosh and setter Eva Snyder.

    There are a trio of sophomores on the team and they are opposite hitter Natalie Egiazarian, defensive specialist Ani Kivijian and middle Gabriella Jarra.

    Two first-year players are on the team and they are outside hitter Emerson Chong and opposite hitter Samantha Yosh.

    Yosh is trying to build something at Burbank, which went 9-26-2 and 1-7 in league for seventh place.

    “Ultimately, I want the girls to have fun and grow as athletes,” she said. “Some of them have been through a lot with the high coaching turnover, so one of our top priorities as their coaches this season is to provide stability and consistency.”

    Providence is in a rebuilding season and next year will play in a different league. (Photo courtesy Sam Tozlian)

    Yosh knows it’s not going to be easy but she and her staff are ready for the role of getting the program on track.

    “That way, they can focus on improving, competing, and getting wins. In the league, we expect to be competitive in every match and play with purpose and intent,” she added. “One of our long-term goals is to build a strong foundation for the program through accountability, respect, integrity, grit, and pride when wearing the Burbank jersey.”

    Yosh also looks forward to the season.

    “What I like about this team is its diversity. It’s not often that you have a varsity team with all four grade levels represented. Every girl on this team earned her spot through hard work and dedication, both at tryouts and in practice.” she stated. “I love that they support one another and communicate effectively to make immediate adjustments during games and practices.”

    Yosh added: “They take Co-Coach Carmen [Camacho-Platas] seriously, respect her leadership, and have embraced her coaching style,” she continued. “I’m excited to see this group grow together, compete hard, and win this season.”

    Sam Tozlian is Providence’s head man and is hopefully optimistic about the season despite carving out an 11-15 mark and 5-9 for fifth in the Prep League.

    “This is a rebuilding year for us. Last season we graduated nearly all of our starters and the player who was poised to be one of our best players transferred to Chatsworth,” he offered. “That being said, we are moving to a league (Independence) where we are one of the favorites instead of being underdogs like we were every year in the Prep League. I expect to finish in the top two and finally make the playoffs.”

    The Pioneers have three seniors and they are Giselle Pacheco, Cate Mejia and Isa Aves.

    Nine players are juniors and include Sarah Swinhart, Natalia Avanesian, Kailey Ho, Gianna La Fontaine, Lori Sepillian, Zoey Barrows, Nasiyah Chapman, Sydney Forlano and Emily Steward.

    Three are sophomores and include Sofia Foster, Melania Adjamian and Gigi Aves.

    “Gigi is a setter and our captain and the best player,” Tozlian said. “This is her second season on varsity.”

    Chapman is a transfer from Burroughs and is an outside hitter.

    “She played for San Gabriel Elite’s Top 16 and under team last year and is going to be our primary finisher once she is cleared to play,” Tozlian noted.

    Ho is also an outside hitter and was on the San Gabriel Elite Top 16 and under team.

    “Kailey is entering her third year on varsity but this will be her first year playing outside hitter, but we have high expectations,” Tozlian said.

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    Rick Assad

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