Lorin Azizan records the game-winning kill to help the Bulldogs survive a five-set victory over the Tornados 

The Burbank Bulldogs didn’t have it easy at times with the Herbert Hoover Tornados, as they escaped with a five-set victory (25-18, 25-14, 20-25, 22-25, 15-11) behind the game-winning kill from Lorin Azizan. In the Pacific League openers last Thursday, Burbank came off a sweeping loss to Arcadia, and Hoover suffered a sweeping loss to Crescenta Valley. 

Azizan, Grace O’Connor, and Gabriella Jarrah helped the Bulldogs get off to a 5-0 scoring run to start the opening set. Azian started off the first set with the game’s first kill, followed by three straight aces by O’Connor. Azizan landed the set-ending kill to give the Bulldogs a 25-18 win in set one. 

Both the Bulldogs and Tornados began set two, giving away points. Azizan and Maddi Yosh recorded back-to-back points to settle down the Burbank offense 5-2 lead over Hoover. This was the spark of an eventual 8-2 scoring run. Chloe Gallagher and Sam Yosh also played a part in the Bulldogs’ scoring run, with Gallagher recording a serve ace with Sam Yosh recording a kill. Gallagher and Maddi Yosh both chipped in with the scoring to end the second set, resulting in the Bulldogs taking the second set by a final of 25-14. 

Both teams had different questions heading into the third set, as the Bulldogs were looking to complete the sweep, with the Tornados looking to keep it alive. Burbank began the third set with a 5-2 scoring run, with O’Connor, Anya Oganian, and Azian contributing. It was a neck-and-neck contest for most of set three until the Tornados gained momentum with back-to-back points by Sona Yegnanyan and Lorinar Boyhevian to give Hoover a 22-18 lead. Burbank stayed in the game with O’Connor recording an ace to make it a two-point game. Erika Kirakosyan and Peyton Braun both had back-to-back points to help the Tornados force a fourth set. 

The Bulldogs and Tornados battled throughout the fourth set neck-and-neck. Early on, Anya Oganian, Maddi Yosh, and Sam Yosh scored points to give the Bulldogs a 6-3 lead over the Tornados. Hoover was never taken lightly through the fourth set as eventually pulled away and Peyton Braun recorded another serving ace to force a decisive fifth set. 

Lorin Azizan started the final set with a failed kill attempt, which resulted in Hoover getting the point. Tatevik Harutyunyan then recorded an ace to put the Tornados up 2-0 until the Bulldogs responded with a 6-2 run. Gabrielle Jarah, Grace O’Connor, and Natalie Eguiazarian all played a part in the scoring run for the Bulldogs, which eventually led Burbank to take control of the fifth set. Azizan recorded three kills and one ace to help the Bulldogs come away with a 15-11 win in the fifth set. 

“I liked how we got a lot of our middles involved down the stretch. We were able to utilize it by running out our best players out there,” said Carmen Camacho Platas. Camacho Platas also added that she addressed the team’s lack of energy and confidence when asked about the Bulldogs’ losses in sets three and four. 

“This is a young team with a lot of potential that is still working on their confidence level in their play,” said Tornados head coach Claudia Choi. Choi mentioned that Lorinar Boyhevian stepped up bravely in the loss, and added that Sona Yegnanyan is a beast with a bright future of being a vocal leader and a superstar player down the line.

Burbank improves to 6-10 overall and 1-1 in Pacific League play, with Hoover dropping to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in Pacific League play. Hoover will play a second of a back-to-back with a road contest with the John Burroughs Bears, with the opening serve at 3:45 p.m. Burbank will take on Muir on the road next Tuesday, September 9th, at 3:45 p.m., which will be a three-game stretch for the Bulldogs.