Pelikan ‘Set’ the Standard for Archer

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

When Zoe Pelikan finally exited Park Century School in Culver City approximately 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 her determination, combined with her skill, have made Pelikan 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 on Saturday in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 quarterfinals and had 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. She’s the quarterback of our offense, she gets balls up that she shouldn’t get up and she’s grown at making better decisions. She’s a great defender and 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 successful prep career in which she set the school single-season assist record with 528 on her way to earning Palisadian-Post Athlete of the Year honors as a junior.

“I have no idea what I want to major in [in college],” said Pelikan, who is interested in Cal and Oregon. “What I love about setter is that I’m always engaged in the game and I get to call the shots.”

Pelikan pulled her groin at the Milken Tournament in September and her first match back was the Panthers’ playoff opener against St. Bonaventure, in which she contributed four kills, two aces, eight digs and 10 assists in a 25-10, 25-16, 25-21 sweep.

“I wanted to be out there so badly and I tried to play two weeks ago and again last week [before playoffs], but I was a little off in warmups,” she said. “I wasn’t 100 percent, but I’ve iced it a lot, which has been helpful.”

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.

“Cafe 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 play with my dog Lila, I like to swim and I volunteer at the Santa Monica Aquarium every Sunday. I’ve also run the Palisades-Will Rogers 5K on the Fourth of July the last four years.”

This fall, Pelikan and the Panthers achieved their goal of repeating as Liberty League champions and posted a stellar 27-5 overall record. She finished her senior season with 26 kills, 17 aces, seven blocks, 70 digs and a team-high 149 assists in 38 sets played.

Pelikan attributed the team’s success to chemistry: “If your relationships off the court are stronger, it builds trust on the court.” Archer racked up 61 victories in her three seasons.

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