Tale of two rivalries: Tigers sweep, Bears survive as Pasadena volleyball splits with Burbank

Two Pasadena-based girls’ high school volleyball teams played two Burbank-based squads recently, and the results were split.

La Salle (0-3) fought valiantly, forcing a fifth set against host Burroughs (2-2) in a nonleague match, but lost.

The day before, visiting South Pasadena (4-1) swept Burbank (1-2) in a nonleague encounter.

The scores of the former match were 25-14, 17-25, 25-17, 21-25, 15-12 in favor of the Bears as senior middle blocker Zoe Davis and junior outside hitter Amelia Walsh were sensational.

The scores of the sweep were 25-19, 26-24, 25-16 with the victory going to the Tigers, who were led offensively by senior outside hitter Bella Ventura, who was spectacular.

In the third and clinching game between the Tigers and the Bulldogs, South Pasadena roared to a 4-1 advantage on Ventura’s ace. It became 9-1 on a kill from sophomore outside hitter Caitlin Watson and 16-9 on Ventura’s winner. Senior setter Evan Taylor’s spike for the Tigers made it 21-13.

Ventura contributed a kill that made it 24-14, bringing the Tigers within one point of the match. When Taylor sprinkled in a kill, the game became official.

The initial set was tied at 3-3 on a kill from Burbank sophomore outside hitter Emerson Chong, and Chong’s block handed the Bulldogs a 7-6 edge. South Pasadena slipped in front 12-10 on a push from junior setter Kayla Yau as Burbank needed a stoppage in play, and consecutive service aces by Ventura made it 13-10 and 14-10.

The Bulldogs came within 19-14 on a rocket from sophomore middle blocker/opposite hitter Samantha Yosh. South Pasadena pulled in front 21-17 on Ventura’s laser.

Ventura added a kill that made it 22-18. Yau delivered an ace that made it 23-18, and Yau added a service winner that increased the margin to 24-18. Burbank came within 24-19 on a bullet from Chong, but a service miscue from Burbank’s Hailey Kim made the game official.

‘The seniors led each other and the rest of the team.’ – Coach Chris Chappelle

Chris Chappelle is the first-year head coach at South Pasadena and liked the overall tone of his club and the match.

“I am very impressed with how quickly our team worked out the challenges together and were focused and played with urgency,” he said. “Surely there’s more to improve upon … and we will get there. I’m mainly impressed as a first-year coach with how the seniors led each other and the rest of the team.”

The second game saw Burbank storm ahead 3-1 on a service winner from Chong. The Bulldogs led 6-4 on an ace from Elisa Ruiz, but South Pasadena rebounded and led 8-6 on an ace from Taylor. Burbank shifted in front 14-11 on a service ace from Kim. Yosh’s stuff made it 16-15 in favor of the Bulldogs.

When Chong’s hit fluttered out of bounds, South Pasadena led 20-16 as the Bulldogs needed a timeout. Watson’s ace made it 24-21. Chong’s tapper saw the Bulldogs get within 24-23, and Burbank tied it at 24-24 on a service winner from senior defensive specialist Frankie Kim.

South Pasadena captured the set on an ace from senior libero/defensive specialist Rian Sanchez.

Chappelle spent three years as an assistant coach at Sierra Canyon and was impressed by the hosts.

“First and foremost, much gratitude to Burbank and their entire program. Their hospitality and competition were nothing short of exceptional and respectful,” he beamed. “It was an honor to open our season this way.”

The fifth and deciding set of the La Salle-Burroughs clash saw the Lancers tie it at 3-3 on a kill from sophomore opposite hitter/middle blocker Clara Tessier.

Walsh delivered a kill that witnessed the Bears scoot in front 9-8, and Davis then added an ace as Burroughs powered ahead 11-8. Walsh’s winner extended the lead to 14-11, and a kill from senior outside hitter Trinity Taylan capped the match.

‘It was an honor to open our season this way.’ – Coach Chris Chapelle

In game two, Burroughs raced to an 8-1 advantage on a hit from Walsh as La Salle asked for a stoppage in play. La Salle staged an impressive comeback, leading 9-8 on a kill from sophomore outside hitter Camilla Beltre, whose father, Adrian Beltre, is a Major League Baseball Hall of Fame third baseman who played with four teams, including the Dodgers for seven seasons, and was in attendance.

Walsh’s dagger tied it at 9-9, but La Salle then went on an 11-3 spurt and led 20-12 on a kill from freshman outside hitter Charli Ramsey. Ramsey’s winner put the score at 23-15 in favor of the Lancers, and a Burroughs mishit made it 25-17.

In the fourth set, La Salle led 4-1 on a push from Beltre and Beltre’s spike made it 8-3. Beltre’s tapper increased the margin to 11-4 as the Bears called a timeout. Ramsey’s block made it 14-9. Beltre’s hit made it 22-18 as Burroughs requested a stoppage in the action. Ramsey’s spike secured the set.

In the opening game, Burroughs scurried to a 13-5 advantage on an ace from senior defensive specialist Joanna Brain.

Walsh’s hit made it 14-5, and Walsh then contributed three straight spikes that saw the Bears lead 18-5, 19-5 and 20-5. Ramsey’s hitting miscue made it 25-14.

The middle set saw Beltre add a block that made it 6-5 in favor of La Salle, and Beltre’s stuff made it 8-7.

Burroughs powered ahead 13-11 on a kill from junior middle blocker Madeline Bixler. The Bears then waltzed ahead 20-16 on a block from Bixler as the Lancers asked for a timeout.

Davis added back-to-back service aces for a 21-16 and 22-16 advantage, and Davis tossed in another service winner for a 24-16 edge. Walsh made it official with a spike.