Pelikan Set Example for Archer Volleyball

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

When Zoe Pelikan finally exited Park Century School in Culver City about 40 minutes after her last high school volleyball match, she did so knowing she left everything on the court.

“All-out” is the only way the lifelong Palisadian knows how to play and that unequaled determination, combined with her skill, have made  her the heart and soul of the Archer School for Girls program the last three years. The senior setter played all 172 points in the Panthers’ four-set loss to Loma Linda Academy last Saturday in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 quarterfinals, finishing with 21 assists, 14 digs, four aces and four kills.

“Zoe is our leader, our co-captain and as she goes, we go,” Archer Coach Jonathan Lotz said. “We went from a 5-1 (one setter) to a 6-2 (two setters) the last round of the playoffs because she’s got such a good arm swing. Zoe’s also one of our best servers. She’s been the cornerstone for one of the best senior classes we’ve ever had.”

Three years of club volleyball with Vintage Beach, Westside Warriors and Active and clinics at Archer prepared Pelikan for a stellar prep career in which she set the school assist record on her way to earning Palisadian-Post Athlete of the Year honors as a junior. She pulled her groin at the Milken Tournament in September and didn’t return to action until the Panthers’ playoff opener against St. Bonaventure, in which she contributed four kills, two aces, eight digs and 10 assists.

“I wanted to be out there so badly and I tried to play a couple times before playoffs,” she said.

Pelikan went to Marquez Elementary through sixth grade and tried other sports, including soccer and softball. Her sister Jessica played basketball and volleyball at Archer, attended Wheaton College in Massachusetts and is now in the pre-med program at USC.

“Café Vida is my favorite place to eat and also Sweet Rose now that it’s there,” said Pelikan, who lives around the corner from Palisades High. “I like to swim and I volunteer at the Santa Monica Aquarium every Sunday.”

Pelikan and the Panthers achieved their goal of repeating as  Liberty League champions and posted a 27-5 overall record.

“We joined varsity together our sophomore year and Zoe’s one of the strongest, most supportive girls I’ve ever played with,” teammate Clara Gasparetti said. “She’s someone you come to rely on because she never leaves the floor.”