After helping Redondo win a girls volleyball State Championship, senior Abril Bustamante has turned her focus to the sand courts
When Abril Bustamante was in 8th grade, she stood in the gym at Long Beach Poly High School as part of a frenzied crowd, watching older sister Olivia and the Redondo Sea Hawks play for the 2010 CIF Southern California Regional championship.
Although the Sea Hawks fell to the Jackrabbits in five sets in what is considered one of the classic girls high school volleyball matches of the last decade, the event provided the impetus for a successful prep indoor volleyball career.
“That match was amazing,” Bustamante said. “The electricity in the gym, the fans on both sides cheering as loud as they could and the intensity of each play made me want to be a part of something that exciting. That’s when I really started to focus on my indoor game.”
Knowing she would be tall – she is now 6-foot-1 – Bustamante played in the Redondo Beach Youth Basketball League growing up but always considered herself a soccer player competing in AYSO and club ball.
Bustamante had also been enjoying success in beach volleyball. In 2009, she won two gold medals, one silver and two bronze in the girls Under-12 division on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) beach volleyball tour. The following year, she medaled three times in Under-14 competition, followed by seven medals in 2011 and 2012.
Wanting to follow in her sister’s footsteps as a member of head coach Tommy Chaffins’ highly-successful girls volleyball program, Bustamante began honing her indoor skills playing club ball for Long Beach Mizuno.
Bustamante made the varsity team as a freshman, increasing her playing time each season to where she rarely came off the court her junior and senior years.
Redondo amassed a 131-26-1 record during Bustamante’s four years as a Sea Hawk culminating with CIF Southern Section Division 1AA and State Division 1 championships last fall.
A 3-2 loss to Marymount in the 2012 CIF-SS Division 1AA championship match remains a thorn in Bustamante’s side.
“Losing in the finals my sophomore year was tough,” Bustamante recalled “But it motivated me, giving me the fire and the kick I needed to reach the next level. Winning State was well worth the wait.”
Bustamante said while capturing the two championships and finishing her senior season with a 39-2 record was exciting, equally fulfilling was the bond with her fellow Sea Hawks that included Mizuno teammates Norene Iosia and Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani,
“The chemistry with the group of girls on the team was tremendous,” Bustamante said. “They helped provide memories that I will never forget.”
“As a teammate, Abril demanded that her teammates find ways to win,” Chaffins said. “She would give up her own personal safety and sacrifice her body to help her team win. She is a caring teammate as well, but you had better be giving it your all at all times.
“She loves volleyball, and loves to compete and win. I know she will be playing volleyball even when she is a senior citizen. She has tremendous passion for the game and puts in the time to learn her craft.”
Chaffins said Bustamante’s biggest improvement came in her serve/receive game. He also noted her passing during her senior season improved .3 on a scale of 3.0, a large jump he attributes to the many reps she receives on the beach.
‘My favorite characteristic of an athlete is competitiveness and Abril is ultra-competitive like myself,” Chaffins said. “We have a running joke of who is more competitive. We just agree to disagree who is more competitive between the two of us.
“Volleyball comes down to passing, and Abril has a tremendous touch on the ball. She was also a 6-rotation middle, which is a rarity in the game now since the advent of the libero There were rotations where she would pass in serve receive and hit quick. I haven’t seen anyone do that. That is the kind of athlete Abril is — to pass from 23 feet and then also be up for the quick set. which is super impressive!.”
Bustamante credits Chaffins for more than just improving her volleyball skills.
“Tommy teaches life lessons,” Bustamante said. “We focused on staying together as a team and staying positive no matter the situation.”
As her days as a high school student wind down, the USC-bound Bustamante reflected on her prep career with two matches quickly coming to mind, including a 25-20, 25-23, 25-27, 19-25, 20-18 thriller in the Southern California Regional championship.
“After winning CIF against Mater Dei, we had to beat them again to reach the State Finals,” Bustamante said. “That five-game match was one of the most exciting I’ve ever played in. Also, having to come back from two games down to win the Bay League championship at Mira Costa was very exciting.”
Bustamante feels that because of her height — she is “only” 6 feet, one inch tall — her future is in beach volleyball. Last November, she committed to play women’s sand volleyball at USC. In May, the Trojans won the 2015 title, the 123rd national championship in the school’s history.
“I love both but my heart is really on the beach,” Bustamante explained. “The entire atmosphere and the people are fun and the plays are so intense. Having to rely on one partner and play all parts of the game is very challenging,”
Also recruited by the University of Arizona, Hawaii and UCLA, Bustamante felt comfortable becoming a Trojan
“When I visited USC I knew it was for me, It’s close to home and I wanted to stay in California near the beach,” the Redondo Beach resident said. “(Coaches) Anna (Collier) and Andrew (Fuller) treated me so well. Plus, I’ll get a great education and make valuable connections.”
Bustamante will be majoring in communications and aspires to become a sports broadcaster. Chaffins feels his former player made the right decision.
“Abril loves volleyball in any form, but times 10 at the beach,” Chaffins said. “Her game is perfectly suited for the beach, as she excels in all facets of the game. I predict that she becomes a female version of Sean Rosenthal. Sean is the tallest of the top tier defenders in the world at 6-foot-4 and Abril will be the tallest defender in the doubles game. She is so fast, anticipates well, adjusts to her opponent’s tendencies quickly, and simply hates losing.”
Prior to the State championship match, Chaffins read aloud letters he wrote to each of his senior players.
Part of Abril’s letter stated “Chris Mcgee (voice of the AVP) will someday read her introduction before an AVP final, “Out of Redondo Beach, from Redondo Union High School, CIF champion, CIF state champion, USC National Champion, here is Abril Bustamante.”
Bustamante will spend the summer refining her skills on the sand while training with Elite Beach Volleyball under the tutelage of Olympians Eric Fonoimoana, Holly McPeak and Barbra Fontana.
“Eric, Holly and Barb are amazing coaches,” Bustamante said. “They have taught me things I never knew about the game. I owe them a lot. They push me to improve every aspect of the game. They are as much mentors as coaches, preparing players for college and high levels of competition They have been big influences in my life.”
Bustamante has won numerous California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) tournaments earning her AAA rating early in the 2014 season.
She was named the 2014 AAU Beach Volleyball Player of the Year winning the 18U Junior Olympic Games with longtime friend (and MIra Costa rival) Skylar Caputo. Bustamante also played on the USA High Performance A1 U19 Beach Junior National Team.
In 2013, Bustamante won the HP Championships while competing on the U17 team and the AAU 16U Best of the Beach championship with Escondido’s Samantha Manley, who will become Bustamante’s PAC-12 rival when she plays for the University of Arizona next season.
Winning the AAU National Championship (July 11-12 in Hermosa Beach) – one of the few titles Bustamante has not held – is among her goals this summer along with representing the USA Jr. National team at the NORCECA qualifying tournament.
Also on her list is a third consecutive CBVA Youth Cal Cup championship. She and Caputo – who first met playing youth soccer, captured the 18U crown last year and the 16U title in 2013.
The duo will be looking for a three-peat when the Cal Cup is held Aug. 29 at the Manhattan Beach Pier.
“Playing with Abril for so many years has given us the opportunity to build a strong chemistry on the court,” said Caputo, who will play sand volleyball at Pepperdine. “As best friends, our partnership on the beach clicked right from the start. She is a motivated player always ready to compete. Even though we will be rivals next year, I will be cheering her on.”
Bustamante and Caputo have partnered to win numerous tournaments including the 18U division at last year’s AAU Junior Olympic Games. In May, they won the CBVA Santa Monica/Ocean Park AAA tournament.
“Skylar and I have that chemistry that is hard to find,” Bustamante said. “I trust her and respect her so much and I know she gives all she has. Also, we understand each other very well and if I get down during the game or if I get frustrated with myself she knows how to bring me back into the game and vice versa.”
Despite the success of their partnership, they both agreed that playing with other partners this summer will benefit each other as they prepare for their college careers
During Memorial Day weekend, Bustamante and Loyola Marymount freshman Sarah Sponcil teamed to win the CBVA Women’s Open tournament in Hermosa Beach.
Bustamante credits much of her success to her parents, both of whom have athletic backgrounds. Her mother, Mireia, played tennis and her father Diego stills plays soccer every Sunday. Abril’s brother Inaki, an 8th grader at Parras Middle School, plans to keep his sibling’s tradition alive playing volleyball at Redondo Union High School.
“My parents have been major influences in my life,” Bustamante said. “They have been so supportive of me and everything I’ve done. They have taught me to focus on the positive things in life.”
Bustamante is hoping to make USC’s No. 3, 4 or 5 team but realizes the competition will be stiff.
“Competing on the college level while focusing on grades will not be easy, but I feel I’m up to the challenge,” Bustamante said. “I’d love to win an NCAA championship and, if the opportunity arises, play in the Olympics.”
