Girls Volleyball: Burlingame Poised for Banner Season

Burlingame 3, Mercy 1 (25-9, 25-15, 14-25, 25-19)

The Star: Cal-bound outside hitter Michelle Neumayr amassed 30 kills to propel host Burlingame to a four-game win over the crosstown Crusaders in Wednesday's non-league match.

The Turning Point: The opening game. The Panthers roared to a 15-2 lead and cruised to comfortable wins in the first two games against the defending West Bay Athletic League Foothill Division champions.

The Quote: "I think we should expect to take league again," said Michelle Neumayr, whose team includes several returning players from the 2009 Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division winner. "We're coming together really well. I think it's encouraging how athletic we are."

What's Next? Burlingame hosts Notre Dame of San Jose on Sept. 17, the team the Panthers beat in the opening round of the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs last year.

Bottom Line: After making a loud statement with its three-game sweep of Sacred Heart Cathedral, the 2009 CCS Division III champion, Burlingame should gain even more confidence after its methodical win over a talented Mercy squad. The Panthers open the PAL Bay season on Tuesday as the league favorite – and they fully expect to defend their crown.

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Outside hitters Vanessa Neumann and Michelle Neumayr believe the Burlingame High girls volleyball team is ready for big things this season.

After stunning reigning Central Coast Section Division III champion Sacred Heart Cathedral with a sweep at the start of the season, Burlingame enters Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division play on Tuesday as the favorite to defend its 2009 title.

"It's something we expect from ourselves," said Neumann, a junior who has moved into a starting role after splitting time last season. "That's the coaches' expectation and our own expectation."

Neumayr, a standout senior, agreed. "I think we should expect to take league again," said the 6-foot-1 outside hitter, who foresees Menlo-Atherton and Carlmont as the top PAL Bay challengers. "We're coming together really well. I think it's encouraging how athletic we are."

Burlingame's depth and athleticism were on full display on Wednesday night in a non-league match against the crosstown Mercy Crusaders. Mercy, which is gunning to defend a league championship of its own, had no answers for Neumayr, Neumann & Co. as the host Panthers rolled to a 25-9, 25-15, 14-25, 25-19 victory.

Burlingame (5-3) started fast – racing to a 15-2 lead in the opening game – and didn't break its stride until Mercy outside hitter Veronica Smart powered home a streak of kills in the third game.

Then the Crusaders, undefeated in the West Bay Athletic League's Foothill Division a year ago, kept right on Burlingame's heels throughout a competitive final game. But Neumayr's all-around excellence proved too much for the visitors.

First, the Cal-bound senior won four straight service points for an 8-4 lead. Then she made that margin stand up with a series of athletic plays. The 2009 PAL Bay Division MVP dominated at the net – rotating between forceful kills and touch shots into open space to keep Mercy's defenders guessing.

Mercy (1-3) pulled within 15-12, 18-15 and 21-17 in the final game, but Neumayr, who registered a match-high 30 kills, and the Panthers had an answer to each run.

Burlingame coach Steve Erle said his star's offensive game is well documented, but that she also excels in the less glamorous facets of the sport.

"She's so effortless when she passes," said Erle, who also noted Neumayr's defense. "She passes quietly."

Neumann provided a nice spark in the second game with tough serves – "she put (Mercy) out of system," Erle said, and the junior finished with 12 kills. Senior setter Janelle Tulich totaled 55 assists.

Mercy's Smart registered a team-high18 kills. Middle hitter Mary Alice O'Reilly, a Division I recruit, had nine kills, and Leslie Baumann totaled 11 digs for the visitors.

With his team set to host Aragon and Carlmont in the opening week of PAL Bay competition, Erle said he is pleased with Burlingame's start. In particular, he highlighted the first win over Sacred Heart Cathedral in his decade-long tenure.

"Every year, we play a preseason match the day after Labor Day," Erle said. "We finally beat 'em after 10 years."

Burlingame's proven playmakers – Tulich earned All-PAL Bay second-team honors last year and middle hitter Leila Torres was an honorable mention pick – and encouraging early results have Neumayr eying a historic season.

Neumayr said winning the program's first CCS banner is a realistic goal.

"I think we definitely have a shot. We definitely need to improve a lot between now and CCS, but we have a lot of time to do that," she said. "It would be great."