Maddi Yosh records the game-winning kill to complete the three-game sweep over the Mustangs 

The Burbank Bulldogs come out victorious with a 3-0 win over the John Muir Mustangs after losing to them in four sets back on September 24th. Muir came in following a three-set defeat over Pasadena in the tournament’s first round last Thursday. Burbank lost their last regular season match, getting swept by crosstown rival Burroughs last Tuesday, October 8th. 

Isabella Contreras recorded the first two points of the contest in the opening set to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead. Burbank was awarded two points to tie the score from errors committed by Muir. Lorin Azizian, and Bee Barona, both had back-to-back kills to give the Burbanks a two-score lead before Azizian increased the Bulldogs lead to 5-3 with her second kill of the first set. Arpa Khechadoorian also had back-to-back aces to help the Bulldogs build their lead to 19-8. Erica Wallace and Terra Bondsmith tried to help get Muir closer with back-to-back kills to make the score 19-11, but that was about as close as they would get. The Bulldogs took the first set by the final of 25-15 over the Mustangs. 

Carly Chapman committed an error to start the second set to give Muir a 1-0 lead but Maddi Yosh tied the score at one with a kill. Narneh Pogosyan gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead with a kill and then then helped Burbank go on a 7-2 scoring run pairing with Chapman for back-to-back kills. Chloe Gallagher recorded four straight aces to help the Bulldogs push it to an 11-4 scoring run until Muir began to fight back. Burbank escaped the second set with a 27-25 win as Ania Ogania recorded the match-ending kill. 

Arpa Khechadoorian started the third set with an ace before a Bulldogs error and an Isabella Contreras kill gave Muir a 2-1 lead. This started a back-and-forth game to begin set three before Burbank pulled away. Maddi Yosh recorded the game-winning kill to complete the three-game sweep of Muir by the final score of 25-14. 

“This was one of the best games we’ve played all season and I’m glad we’re on track to end the season on a good note,” said Bulldogs coach Morgan Bolger. Bolger admitted that the Bulldogs’ serving really helped them in the sweeping victory over Muir. 

Both teams will return to action on Wednesday, October 16th, as Muir will take on Hoover in the 7th-place match at 4:00 p.m. and Burbank will play round two of the Battle of the Bulldogs at 6:00 p.m. in the 5th-place game. Both games will take place at Burbank High School.