Boys’ Volleyball Defeats Fullerton 3-1 Behind Ammermann’s 11 Kills

Dara Aung-Pfingsten, Staff Writer • April 17, 2026

Outside hitter Jeremiah Ammermann (’26) rises for a kill over a Fullerton player.

BOHS boys’ varsity volleyball overcame an early stumble to defeat visiting Fullerton High School 3-1 on April 13.

The Wildcats struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the first set, trailing Fullerton 19-14, due to what head coach Kavita Arasu attributed to a lack of preparation.

“It was hard for the team coming back from spring break because we had a week of no practice,” Arasu said.

After a timeout and strong defense from libero Sean Chen (‘28) and defensive specialist Louie Olvera (‘27), and three timely blocks from Ryan Song (‘28), the Wildcats closed the gap to 21-20.

“Ryan really stepped up,” middle blocker Daniel Lee (‘27) said. “He was playing a different position than usual, and he still got good blocks.”

Chen, Olvera, and Song’s defensive efforts, plus an ace from opposite hitter Brysen Byrnes (‘26), evened the score at 24-24 at the end of the first set, but the Wildcats lost 26-24 in overtime.

After winning the first point off of a missed serve, setter Kaeden Vasquez (‘26) opened the second set with a six-serve streak. With help from Chen’s two defensive digs, and aggressive front-row offense by opposite hitter Ivan Haluska (‘26) and outside hitter Jeremiah Ammermann (’26), the Wildcats shut down each of Fullerton’s attempts to score for a 7-0 lead.

“Our whole team had great energy in the second set,” Haluska said. “We collectively wanted the win.”

Jeremiah Ammermann elevates for a kill, one of his 11 in the game. (Rio Zamora)

With three kills from outside hitter Ashton Jenks (‘27) and strategic hits off of Fullerton’s blockers by Haluska and Seth Vivek (‘26), the Wildcats closed out the second set with a 15-point lead.

In the third set, the Wildcats won again in overtime, 26-24, behind strong offense from Ammermann who, in a momentum-gaining stretch, had five kills.

“[Jeremiah] was unstoppable,” Vasquez said.

In the fourth and final set, successful double blocks by Vasquez and middle blocker Jacob Sim (‘29), coupled with kills from Jenks and Mason Del Rosario (‘26), secured a 25-18 victory.

The win improved the Wildcats’ overall record to 18-7. Currently atop the North Hills League with a 6-1 record, the Wildcats can clinch at least a tie for a league title with a win against La Habra on April 21.

A league championship also means a favorable seeding in CIF-Southern Section playoffs.

“[We’ll take] baby steps with CIF,” Arasu said. “Last year we were in Division 7, [but] this year we will likely be pushed up to Division 6 and play against more competitive teams.”

Despite the increased competition, the Wildcats are optimistic for a post-season run.

“I’m hoping we’ll make an even better CIF run [than last season] especially with our great senior class,” Vasquez said.

Varsity players huddle after a point. (Rio Zamora)

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About the Contributors

Dara Aung-Pfingsten, Staff Writer

Dara Aung-Pfingsten (’29) is thrilled to begin her first year at the Wildcat as a staff writer. Previously focused on short stories and poetry, this year she looks forward expanding to journalism and honing her writing abilities. Outside of the classroom, Dara plays for the volleyball team and fuels her interest in law through Mock Trial. This year, she intends to explore as many clubs as her busy schedule will allow. In her free time, she enjoys evening walks with her husky, watching the sunset, and traveling (She would revisit London a thousand times if she could). In the next few years, she looks forward to growing as a journalist and exploring the many opportunities that BOHS offers.

Rio Zamora, Photographer

Rio Zamora (’28) is excited to join the Wildcat as a photographer. He hopes to hook the viewers with his photography skills and creativity. Rio is the owner of his sports photography page on Instagram (@shotzbyrio), where he captures the moment in all of your favorite sports. You can also catch him balling out on the soccer pitch or just having a laugh in the quad with his friends. As a sophomore, Rio is focused on improving his photography skills tremendously this year and getting A’s in all of his classes. He’s also eager to meet new people and make some more lifelong friends.