Bulldogs enter the second year of the Stephanie Yosh era with renewed playoff expectations
The Burbank High School girls volleyball team will look to return to the playoffs in the second year of the Stephanie Yosh era.
The Bulldogs finished last season with a 12-20 overall record and a 6-8 mark in Pacific League play. This fall, they will compete in the Crest League as part of the newly reorganized Rio Pacific Conference. Yosh enters her second season as the program’s director of volleyball operations. Her coaching staff will feature varsity head coach Sabrina Sullivan, junior varsity head coach Melissa Escobedo and freshman head coach Melissa Gomes.
Sullivan coached at Mayfield Senior School last season under head coach Ryan Duncan. A former Burroughs player under longtime coach Edwin Real, Sullivan later returned to the program and served as Real’s junior varsity head coach. She succeeds Carmen Camacho Palatas, who stepped away from the girls program to focus on coaching women’s volleyball at Pasadena City College and serving as an assistant coach with the Burbank boys volleyball team. Gomes, the Bulldogs’ new freshman coach, also brings playing experience to the program, including time competing in a women’s volleyball league in Brazil.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity to serve as the Burbank High girls varsity volleyball head coach,” Sullivan said. “Coach Stephanie has complete faith in me to carry out her vision for the program, and I’m confident that she and I will be a great coaching tandem.” Sullivan credited Real with helping shape her development as a coach and said she is especially excited for the Bulldogs’ two rivalry matches against Burroughs.
“I’m thrilled about what year two will bring as I continue overseeing the program,” Yosh said. “Having Sabrina Sullivan as our varsity head coach is going to be great because she’s an amazing coach.”Yosh also expressed optimism that the Bulldogs can contend for a playoff spot during the inaugural season of the Rio Pacific Conference.
Players to watch include senior Maddi Yosh, who received All-Pacific League honorable mention recognition last season; juniors Ani Kivijian and Gabrielle Jarrah; and sophomores Emerson Chong and Sam Yosh.
The Bulldogs will open the 2026 season with back-to-back home matches against South Pasadena and Whittier Christian. Burbank will face South Pasadena at 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, followed by Whittier Christian at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11. Burbank will also host its annual varsity tournament Friday, Aug. 21, and Saturday, Aug. 22, with match times to be announced.
The Bulldogs will face crosstown rival Burroughs on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at Burbank High School. They will begin Crest League play at home against Glendale on Thursday, Sept. 10. The second rivalry match against Burroughs will take place Wednesday, Oct. 14, at John Burroughs High School. Stay tuned for coverage of Burbank High girls volleyball throughout the 2026 season.
