Volleyball: the good and the bad

BRIAN CALDERA Reporter @btvcaldera

Leslie ramirez Forward

Leslie Ramirez was the leading goal scorer with 10 goals and 11 assists, helping to lead the team to the playoffs. They lost to Ventura 3-1 in the first round.

How does it feel to be the MVP?

“It feels pretty cool. It wasn’t something I was thinking about all year. My job is just to work hard and do what I have to do to win.”

How would you evaluate yourself this season?

“I haven’t played in almost three years, so I put a lot of pressure on myself and I like putting myself on a high pedestal. Just remember all of the fundamentals, techniques and having the right mentality.”

What were some of your proud moments?

“Every time I would score or assist, I would get really proud. Building that relationship and making memories with them was pretty cool. I have only positive things to say about this team.”

What are your plans for the offseason?

“Get a job, focus more on school and obviously work out.”

What are your New Year’s resolutions?

“Get more fit. Hopefully have my own place. Continue with soccer. Get money, have fun and taking better steps to become a better player next year.”

The women’s volleyball team came close to winning the state title but fell short after losing the championship game to the Fresno Rams in three straight sets.

Coaches and players reflected on what the season allowed them to accomplish and what to look forward to in 2017.

Middle Blocker Cairo Harrell said

Tamar Kazanjian Utility

Tamar Kazanjian was the leading scorer with 32 goals and 5 assists for the water polo team.

How do you think you performed through the season?

“I feel like I definitely gained game play experience. I was able to help my team a lot and teach them some things that I just know from experience that I think could have helped our team. ” that the season went well and the team warranted making it to finals.

What is one thing you would tell a person that hasn’t played water polo before?

“I had a swim background. I knew I loved the pool and I would watch my brother’s water polo games and I thought, ‘Oh, that’s fun. Maybe I should try it.’ My brother pushed me a little to try it. I tried it out and I loved it ever since.

What is your biggest accomplishment of the season?

“I think my stats because I was able to be very versatile and help my team out in different aspects of the pool. On offense, I was able to lead the offense. On defense, I always tried to be there and know that my team could count on me.

How do you want your coaches and teammates to remember you?

“I think just my attitude and what I’ve done here and how I’ve helped the team. My coaches, I want them to remember me as a team player and team leader because I was captain this year and I was an MVP last year.

“The whole season has been really good. Of course we would have our casual struggles with practice and what not, but I feel that all-in-all we always figure out a way as a team to pull through. I feel we made it this far because of how we practice and just how we are as a team. We completely

Isaiah Staton Linebacker

Despite a rough season, Isaiah Staton was the standout player with a total of 69 tackles.

How do you think you performed during the overall season and how could you have improved?

“I think I did okay. I could have been better. I could have studied film more. I just feel like I played my best. I did good, but I didn’t do my best.”

Where are you transferring once you finish at Pierce?

“Hopefully Arizona State University or Baylor University. I want to continue playing.”

What do you want to do for a career?

“Well, after football, sports, sports commentary, sports analyst, anything in that area.”

If you weren’t in sports at all, what would you do?

“Personal trainer. I already have my own business called Hopes and Dreams of Millions. I would have my own gym, start with one and expand from that. I love California. I would stay here.”

What would you say to someone in their mid 20’s that wants to get into football?

“Good luck. It’s not something you just jump into, in my opinion. You have to have a background in it. It’s like trying to be a basketball player and you never played it before you were 19 or 20.” deserve being here because we are the hardest working team in this competition. This is what we earned,” Harrell said.

The Brahmas played more than a few of the teams that made it to the championship during regular season. Harrell said that they would have to focus and pay attention to make it to the next round.

SCHEDULE

Dec.

Nabil Mardini Coach

This year Coach Mardini led the volleyball team to a conference championship and to the state championships where they lost to Fresno in the final match.

How do you feel about being named the coach of the semester?

“It feels like I’ve been here too long. Obviously it’s an honor. I don’t know if I deserve it, but thank you.”

What do you think the team has achieved overall this season?

“This is nothing more than just a personal thing. We have achieved a lot. Especially making it this far. All of my personal achievements and accomplishments are set aside.”

What are the plans for the offseason?

“I haven’t thought really much about it right now. The plan is to go one day at a time, but offseason is normal. It is business as usual.”

What are your New Year’s resolutions? “The New Year resolution will be to win the state title in 2017.”

“We always say that practice is harder than the games anyway, so this season has kind of been a breeze, [but] I feel the games ahead of us are going to be tough because they made it there for a reason. So there is going to be something that they can do to try and get through all of our weaknesses, but because of how we are and what we’ve become as a team, we can annihilate them,” Harrell said. The season had some difficulties and occasional falters, coach Nabil Mardini said. The biggest hurdle was the loss of three players, Shai Volpis, Shanon Volpis and Kristen White, earlier in the season due to injuries.

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