Girls’ volleyball preview: Burroughs hoping to sustain league success
The 2017 season had its share of successes for local girls’ volleyball teams.
Gone from the landscape is Bellarmine-Jefferson, as the school closed its doors in June.
For Burroughs, which won the Pacific League title a year ago, Burbank and Providence, all three programs are looking to fill spots vacated by players who graduated.
At Lycee International of Los Angeles, the program is in limbo after its coach recently decided not to return.
Here is a closer look at the teams.
BURROUGHS
A year ago, following a loss to Arcadia, the Indians (27-4) won their final 10 league matches — including sweeping the Apaches — to finish 12-1 and secure their second Pacific League championship in three seasons.
In the CIF Southern Section Division Division III playoffs, Burroughs won its opener against Norco and fell to Westridge in the second round.
Burroughs lost a large portion of its offense to graduation, including Marin Grote, who is at the University of Washington. Grote averaged 13 kills a match, earning her league player of the year honors along with being named the Burbank Leader Girls’ Athlete of the Year.
“It’s always tough to replace a player like Marin,” Burroughs coach Edwin Real said. “Along with her athletic ability it was just her presence on the court that really made the difference for us. It’s not just one person who carries us, but when you have a player like Marin it definitely helps.
“But like with some other key players in the past, we just try and move on because there’s really nothing we can do about it. We will just put some other players in place and I think we will be fine.”
The Indians have a core group of returners, led by first-team all-league senior outside hitter Juliana Van Loo (6.6 kills a contest in 2017). Also returning are sophomore outside hitter Catie Virtue and junior Lydia Grote, Marin’s sister.
Another player who Real expects to make an impact is freshman libero/defensive specialist Charlotte Hobson.
In the quest to repeat at league champion, Real said he expects Arcadia to be a tough opponent.
“We know being league champs, teams will be coming for us,” Real said. “Arcadia is always a tough opponent. While Burbank is our rival in the city, Arcadia has become our chief rival in the league the last few years.
“[Crescenta Valley] has a new coach and they always have some good athletes, so we will have to see about them.”
PROVIDENCE
In its final foray in the Liberty League, the Pioneers (14-8) tied for second place in league with a 5-3 record. Two teams from the league, Glendale Adventist Academy (the co-runner-up) and champion Archer captured CIF Southern Section titles.
In the Division VIII playoffs, Providence opened with a victory against Bishop Diego before falling in the second round to Nordhoff.
The Pioneers will make a sizable jump to the Prep League, which includes Flintridge Prep, Chadwick, Firebaugh, Mayfield, Pasadena Poly, Rio Hondo Prep and Westridge, the defending champion which advanced to the Division III semifinals.
Providence lost a big contributor to graduation in All-CIF first-teamer Talia Patterson (291 kills, 201 digs, 30 aces).
“I know we are probably not going to be on anyone’s radar, as we lost five of our rotation players,” Providence coach James Jimenez said. “If we calculate it, it’s like we lost 80 to 90% of our offense, with graduation, girls transferring out and girls deciding not to come back.
“But we have five incoming freshmen, which is always good for the future, and we have a solid core returning from last season. …We can still play.”
Key returners are senior setter Justine Nunez, junior libero Isabella Mahan-Mesa and junior Liana Artunian, who moves from opposite to outside hitter. A transfer from Sacred Heart of Jesus who could contribute is sophomore middle Maddie Morris and a promising freshman is outside hitter Ashley Davis.
“League is going to be tough for sure and there are some very good teams in this league,” Jimenez said. “But although we moved up to Division VII from Division VIII in CIF, I think we could still make a run in the playoffs.
“I feel like we have the talent to get into the playoffs, but from this league, I think we are going to have to be an at-large team.”
BURBANK
The Bulldogs (17-7-1) are coming off a season in which they finished 10-4 in the Pacific League for third place.
In the Division IV playoffs, Burbank lost in the first round to La Cañada.
“A lot of our key players from last year graduated,” Burbank coach Karl Rojo said. “That was a really good core group and they really made an impact and helped us be successful.
“We’ve been moving the pieces around trying to find the right solution and put people in the right spots. I think the underclassmen have really stepped up and some seniors have filled some spots, so we’re looking pretty good at this point. I can see the improvement, which is great.”
Returning all-league players for the Bulldogs are junior opposite Katie Treadway (59 kills and 38 digs) and junior setter Ashley Escander (31 kills, 24 digs and 13 aces and 318 assists).
Also returning are senior outside Amaya Broyls, senior opposite Carmen Camacho-Platas and junior setter Kassie Gonzales. New to the team is sophomore middle Bianca Hudson, junior middle Leah Tawil, senior defensive specialist Izzy Sanchez, senior middle Iva Kuiper and senior libero Kayla Pino.
“We have a pretty good mix of returning players and newcomers,” said Rojo, who will carry seven seniors. “They have all been working hard and getting ready for the season.
“We want to work up to league and I really think we have a chance to be a top two or three teams in the league. The league is going to be competitive again this year. But our goals are to make playoffs and get past the first round.”
LYCEE INTERNATIONAL OF LOS ANGELES
Athletic director Patrice Filin said he was recently informed that coach Leonardo Granato will not be returning and the school is the the process of finding his replacement.
Last season, LILA defeated St. Monica Academy, 25-23, 25-20, 24-26, 25-18, in an International League match. That win snapped St. Monica’s run of 71 consecutive league victories, which was tied for 10th all-time in CIF Southern Section history according to the CIF record book.
In just their second season of CIF competition, the Lions went on to win the school’s first league championship, halting St. Monica’s string of seven straight league titles.
LILA finished the season 10-2.
After a first-round bye in the Division X playoffs, LILA lost in the second round to Eastside Christian.
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