Pions Possess Sibling Symmetry at Windward

It is often said that chemistry is vital to a team's success and brothers Chase and Drew Pion of Pacific Palisades are taking that concept to a whole new level at Windward School.

Their symbiosis on the court was a major reason the Wildcats' boys volleyball team advanced to the semifinals of the Southern Section playoffs for just the third time in school history this season. 

"We love playing together and we trust each other," Chase said. "The chemistry we have is like no other because we see each other every day, we know each other so well and we have each other's back."

Windward's season ended Tuesday night in a four-set defeat at top-seeded Santa Monica, but with both brothers coming back the program is in steady hands. The Wildcats tied Brentwood for first place in the Alpha League and were seeded No. 4 in the Division 4 bracket.

"It was a good match and we know a lot of their players through club," Chase said of Tuesday's match. "We didn't play our best game but it was a nice season. I think it might have been a different story [against Samo] if we were at home, but we lost the coin toss."

Chase, 17, is the junior captain and setter and led the team in assists and blocks while Drew, 15, is a freshman setter and hitter who led the team in kills and aces.

Communication is constant between them, though sometimes as subtle as a nod of the head or a look in the eye. They play with smiles on their faces at all times, whether the scoreboard shows them ahead or behind.

"We just love to play, we love our team and for me, it's an opportunity to play with my big brother," Drew said. "Who could ask for more?"

Not only do the Pions anticipate each other's every move, but their passion and love for the game also rubs off on their teammates.

"They are our great to play with," junior middle blocker Peter Gutman said. "They are so positive and they're always encouraging each other and the rest of us. There's no way we would've gotten this far without them."

Both brothers have attended Windward (located in Mar Vista) since seventh grade and went to Wildwood School in Los Angeles before that. Their family moved from Kenter Canyon in Brentwood to the Alphabet Streets in 2000 and since then Chase and Drew have honed their skills with their Pacific Palisades Volleyball Club teams and at Will Rogers State Beach.

"We go down to the Bel-Air Bay Club all the time in the summer and we've learned a lot of our ball control from playing at the beach," said Chase, who plays on Pacific Palisades Volleyball Club's U17s squad. "They are two different games but the skills cross over. We also enjoy playing tennis."

It's no surprise that the Pion brothers are such gifted athletes given that sports runs through their veins. Their mother Suzy was the setter on Palisades High's 1979 state championship volleyball squad and played one year at UCLA. Their father Jeff was on the tennis team all four years at UC Santa Barbara.

"All of the volleyball genes came from mom though," Drew joked. "Dad's not very good!"

Drew plays "up" an age group on Pacific Palisades Volleyball Club's U16s team and one of his teammates is Samohi's Dane Keckin, whose Vikings meet second-seeded San Gabriel for the championship Saturday at Cypress College.

"I'm sure I'll be hearing about that at [club] practice," Drew said. "We're all very competitive on the court, but we get along off the court."

In the winter, the Pions played a pivotal part in the Windward soccer team's success. Chase played left midfield and Drew played directly behind him at left fullback.

"There's a lot of talking and a lot of overlapping," Chase said.

"Yeah, and it's mostly me yelling 'Man on!'" Drew chimed in.

Chase injured his back several weeks before the playoffs and Drew got a hip flexor in the Wildcat's regular season finale. Without the siblings' symmetry in the lineup, Windward lost to Riverside Notre Dame 2-1 in the first round of the playoffs.

"We had a lot of injuries at the wrong time," Chase said."Not just us, but another key starter and in soccer missing that many guys really messes up the chemistry."

Next year will be the brothers' last chance to play together in high school and both want to have seasons to remember. In volleyball, only two players are graduating, so the Wildcats are primed for another long playoff run next spring.

"Hopefully, we can get back [to the semifinals] and win it next time," Chase said. "Drew will have a few more chances but it's going to be my last shot so I'm really motivated to do it."