Amanda Rivetti
Wanting to leave her small town behind, Ashley Lugo packed her belongings and took one last look at Deltona, Fla. and its 83,000 residents.
Three thousand miles later, in the San Fernando Valley with 20 times more people, she fearlessly unloaded her things.
Leaving Florida the day after graduating from Pine Ridge High School in May, Lugo hasn’t had time to look back. For an ambitious 18-year-old wanting to pursue a film career, California is the place to be.
Lugo’s first line of action was to take some time off school and get her feet wet in the entertainment industry.
She began editing work at The Cutt Studio, a film and photography studio in Hollywood.
Getting into the business was an easy transition for Lugo because her father, Alonzo Brown, is also in the entertainment industry as a writer and director.
“Writing the script, editing, then selling it and watching it be made,” Lugo says, is her major attraction to film.
“I don’t just see the movie, I see the cameras behind and all the directors sitting in chairs.”
Aside from editing, Lugo has a passion for old movies, with “A Bronx Tale” being a favorite.
Also an accomplished athlete, Lugo was offered full scholarships to play volleyball for Pennsylvania State University, Nevada State College and Albany State University in Georgia, but she denied them in hopes of earning her film degree at University of Southern California.
When she began her California school search, Lugo chose to attend Pierce College because of its high transfer rates.
However, more than just transferring, a fateful meeting with a coach has made Pierce an important aspect of her life.
Not very often does the women’s volleyball coach Nabil Mardini walk across campus, but something told him one day to do so and half way to the Copy Tech center, he discovered why.
Her athletic look and 6-foot-tall frame caught his attention, but it was the patch on Lugo’s backpack with the words “Orlando Volleyball Academy” that made him stop dead in his tracks.
Mardini, co-director of the Santa Monica Beach Club for men’s volleyball, recognized the patch and wanted to know how Lugo came to be at Pierce and why she had not joined Pierce’s team.
Lugo played volleyball for her high school for four years and two years with OVA, but she was waiting to play for Pierce until she knew she could commit herself 100 percent.
Mardini invited Lugo to participate in one of his regular practices.
“She came to practice and she’s joined us ever since,” Mardini said. “She’s a great girl…very coachable.”
“She’s definitely someone who’s going to help our team. She brings the missing link for us in pursuing the championship.”
For Lugo, more than just playing, the team has brought her comfort and friends, which is hard to find for a small-town girl who recently moved to a big city.
“They remind me a lot of my high school team. They’re really close-knit, down-to-earth, cool girls,” said Lugo. “Everybody’s really busy, but whenever we have the time, we’re all out.
A close friend to her on and off the court is Meredith Rice, freshman outside hitter and co-captain.
Sharing a mutual friend, both knew of each other but had never met until Rice’s senior year in high school in 2005.
“We laugh all the time,” said Rice. “We tease each other and laugh about it, I can’t be mad at her. I try, but she makes me laugh too much.”
As for Lugo joining a squad that has gelled together since last season’s fairy tale team, the chemistry has been no problem.
“She fit in right away,” said Rice. “Ever since she’s been on the team she’s puts a smile on everyone’s faces.”
Lugo anticipates a good season to come and looks forward to playing for Pierce, ranked fourth in state and had an overall record of 23-4 last season.
“This team has a lot of potential,” Lugo said.
“We’re really up on our game…if we just keep at it, we’re definitely going to make it.”
It’s been 10 months since Lugo graduated high school and moved out to California.
She has all the necessities and resources a person could want: a supportive father, a bright future in entertainment and newfound sisters on the volleyball team.
Don’t expect her to return home anytime soon.
“I love it out here,” Lugo expressed. “There’s a lot more to do, a lot more opportunities, it’s just so much better.”