Players honored for fine efforts

BURBANK — The Bellarmine-Jefferson High boys' volleyball team set out to prove something this past season.

The Guards were able to accomplish a great deal, setting school records and having the finest season in Bell-Jeff history.

For their efforts, the Guards were rewarded with five All-Santa Fe League elections, including an all-time high three first-teamers.

"We haven't had that many first-teamers in one season at Bell-Jeff," Coach Miguel Segura said. "It is something the guys can be proud of. It also proves that all their hard work and their focus paid off this season."

Bell-Jeff (19-8) finished second in league and racked up wins with a senior-heavy team.

In the CIF Southern Section Division V playoffs, Bell-Jeff wanted to make some noise. What followed were wins against Pasadena Poly (23-25, 25-22, 27-29, 25-14, 15-11) and St. Margaet's (16-25, 25-22, 20-25, 25-21, 15-13).

Bell-Jeff advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in school history. Unfortunately, it fell to eventual champion Viewpoint, 25-21, 25-15, 25-14. Viewpoint didn't drop a game in the playoffs.

"We wanted to get to the quarterfinal and we did," Segura said. "Yes, we would have liked to get someone else in the quarterfinals than Viewpoint. But at least we got as far as we did."

Leading the way for the Guards was senior outside hitter Victor Yazdi. Yazdi had 153 kills and a 47% hitting percentage to go along with 111 digs and 16 blocks.

Yazdi was a two-sport standout this season, as he was an All-CIF Southern Section Northeast Division selection in football, leading the Guards with 140 tackles.

The Guards' other all-league selections were senior setter Chris Lopez, junior middle blocker Ramy Garsdean and senior outside hitter Gregoire Felipe. Lopez had 105 kills, 68 digs and 275 assists, Garsdean had 125 kills, 108 blocks and 150 digs and Felipe had 82 kills and 52 digs.

Providence (10-11) finished third in the Liberty League, which includes Viewpoint. The Pioneers won their Division V playoff opener against Glendale Adventist Academy, 21-25, 25-20, 26-24, 26-24, but fell to Sage Hill in the second round, 25-23, 16-25, 25-19, 25-21.

The Pioneers had two all-league players in senior libero Doug Moacanin and junior setter Nico Pierson. Moacanin had 264 digs (24 against Glendale Adventist and 23 against Sage Hill) and averaged 12 digs a game. Pierson tallied 442 assists and averaged 20 assists per game.

In just its first season of varsity competition, Burroughs was able to earn four wins.

Under Coach Joel Brinton, the Indians had two all-league honorees. Senior outside hitter Josh Marbach made the first team, junior Chris Smith made the second team and junior Robert Reyes was an honorable-mention choice.

"Josh was our leader this year," Brinton said. "He set the example for the other guys and his play is what the other guys are aspiring to be like.

"It was also great for Chris, who hadn't played any volleyball before this season. He improved tremendously."