By IRENE FEHER :

 Three students, three different grade levels, three different ages, but all dedicated players that made the cut into varsity volleyball.

Freshman Erica Mallari, sophomore Michal Francisco and junior Siena Tinoco are Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS) students who made varsity on the Birmingham Community Charter High School (BCCHS) volleyball team.

Mallari started playing volleyball during 5th grade, but started playing seriously in 7th and 8th grade.

Her good passes were what distinguished her from the other girls and so her position for the team is a passer.  Even though she made varsity as a freshman, Mallari feels a bit overwhelmed about being on the team.

“It’s really scary and I’m not used to playing hard like how you have to for varsity,” Mallari said. “ But I enjoy it, it’s fun. I’m excited and scared at the same time.”

Francisco started playing volleyball in the spring of 2012. She played for a volleyball league at Winnetka Park before she joined the BCCHS volleyball team.

“I tried out with a sprained ankle so I’m very happy I got in the team, considering I couldn’t play my best,” Francisco said. “I was ecstatic when I found out I’m on junior varsity. Then the coach wanted to talk to me after practice. That’s when she told me I moved up to varsity. I was speechless.”

Tinoco started playing volleyball four years ago, playing for her private middle school volleyball team. Tinoco tried very hard to get into varsity and it paid off. Her official position for the team is right-back setter.

“I really wanted to get into varsity so I definitely had to try harder and step up my game for try outs,” Tinoco said. “There were a lot of new girls that played well and they could have easily replaced me. I couldn’t play my junior varsity game if I wanted to be in varsity.”

The girls volleyball pre-season started Aug. 9 and have been playing against Panorama High School, Kennedy High School and Buckley High School. There season starts Sept. 30.

“We are done with pre-season and the varsity team did very well,” Tinoco said.  “Since, we’ve been doing good in preseason, I feel we will also do very good in season.”