San Marino High School’s girls’ volleyball team, pictured after last week’s game at Mayfield, include (front row, from left) Amanda Redding, Leela Anvekar, Erin Hill, Kira Glasse, Nanami Matzumoto and Tessa Kackstetter. Top row: coach Angel Ramirez, Marlene Ketelaar, Cassandra Liong, Gabriela Salim, Mira Emmamulee, Aubrey Wendling, Heidi Doerges, Renee Rodriguez and Maya Gonzales.
Even for a time of maximum unpredictability, the sport of high school girls’ volleyball has endured the most volatile fortunes. In late February, the sport received what seemed to amount to a death knell when it was assessed that there was insufficient time to pull off a season, especially when considering its traditional manner of play as an indoor sport.
Buy like many in the business world, officials simply moved the game outdoors so when state health officials gave the green light to conduct play, volleyballers were ready.
Last week, San Marino traveled to Pasadena, where they squared off with Mayfield Senior School in another of those history-making events that can only be concocted by COVID: the first high school girls’ volleyball game played outdoors…in the month of March.
As with most extracurricular events that have survived the pandemic, the specifics mattered little to those involved; it was important only that they played.
“It was a very competitive match,” said Angel Ramirez, who has the distinction of being San Marino’s girls’ volleyball coach for about a year though still hasn’t set foot in the gymnasium. “We used a combination of varsity and junior varsity athletes. The game went well as we used different rotations to figure out what works for our team. It was a great learning experience for them.”
The squad is patching together a schedule from schools who are looking for games and have the resources and facilities to support outdoor play.
Mayfield held a salute for its seniors and invited San Marino to join in. Seniors Erin Hill, Leela Anvekar and Kira Glasse were acknowledged for their contributions to the program, which included a Rio Hondo League championship in 2018 — the team’s first in 28 years.
“It was great that seniors had a chance to play with their underclassmen and leave a final impression on the program as the volleyball season closes out,” Ramirez said. “I am also very happy with the efforts our program has put in to help make something out of a not-too-promising situation after the announcement of our indoor season being canceled. I am very proud of our seniors and I thank them for setting a good
example.”
