Volleyball Notebook: Apaches Stumble in Rematch With Burroughs

After a week off of action for the spring break holidays, volleyball was back in full swing for our local teams in the San Gabriel Valley. Some teams were able to get their first league victories while others stumbled in big time rematches. Let’s take a closer look.

Arcadia

The Apaches had a week to prepare for their huge rematch with the top team in CIF-Southern Section Division 3, Burroughs, and the Apaches were looking for revenge after a close 3-2 loss last time they played. However, Burroughs showed why it’s at the top, cruising to a 3-0 sweep of the Apaches.

“Burroughs was very much improved they are going to be tough they are running on all cylinders,” coach Charles Freberg said. “They didn’t serve well but they didn’t have to on our side we didn’t pass well that always means a loss. They were able to side out with will, and you won’t win too many matches doing that.”

The loss drops the Apaches to 10-4 and into a tie for third in the Pacific League.  They have a big match on Friday at 7 p.m. at Crescent Valley, where the winner will have a chance to leapfrog into second place.

“We have to gain enough experience so they can make good choices,” said Freberg. “We played hard and made some good plays every once in a while, but we have to get much better at our blocking and passing to contend for second.”

La Salle

The Lancers had a busy week as they were playing in the Viewpoint Spring Classic. They finished the tournament with a 2-1-1 record. They recorded wins over St Bernard and Temecula Prep, with their loss coming to Los Angeles and their tie with Viewpoint.

After the tournament, they continued their hot league play, as they improved their Del Rey League record to 5-1 with a 3-0 win over Bishop Amat. The team suffered an unexpected loss to Cathedral on April 7, but assistant coach Randi Taylor-Toomay sees it as a wake-up call.

“I think at the Cathedral game we got complacent and just thought we were going to walk out and win the game with ease,” Taylor-Toomay said. “Now I think the kids have learned their lesson and know that they have to compete for every game.

In fitting fashion, the league championship could come down to the final game when La Salle takes on Cathedral in a pivotal rematch on May 2.

South Pasadena

South Pasadena was flying high after back-to-back wins in the Rio Hondo League, but was quickly grounded in a 3-0 loss to non-league opponent San Gabriel. Tigers coach Todd Terzian said that the key to the loss was his team’s inability to serve.

“We had four players that jump serve, and they all struggled to get the serves in,” he said. “We played well at the beginning and then sort of had difficulties defending their middles. There’s a reason they are one of the top teams in their division.”

The Tigers will have a chance to bounce back in a league game against Gabrielino on Friday at 4 p.m. Next week, the Tigers prepare for a jam packed schedule. With league games combined with the much-anticipated Crescenta Valley Tournament, the Tigers are looking at eight games next week.

“We are going to get a great idea of now only where we stand in our league but just how much we have improved since our spring break,” Terzian said. “I’m really excited to see what the kids can do.”

San Marino

After struggling for much of the season, the San Marino Titans might have found their game as they have won their last two Rio Hondo League matches. First, the Titans knocked off Gabrielino on Tuesday to get their first win since March. Then, they swept the struggling La Canada Spartans 3-0. 

“Our problem all year is that we haven’t played well against the teams that on paper we are even with or better then. Hopefully we have now found our identity and we can move forward,” said coach Mariana Montes.

The Titans will continue league play next week, when they go on the road to take on a Poly team that swept them 3-0 earlier in the season.

Flintridge Prep

Just like San Marino, Flintridge Prep was able to shake off a losing streak to notch back-to-back Prep League wins. Both wins came on the road, upping the Rebels’ record away from home to 6-4, while a 3-0 loss to Chadwick on Thursday dropped their home record to a head-scratching 1-8.

First the Rebels took care of Webb 3-0 before handling Rio Hondo Prep on Tuesday, also 3-0. The two wins put the Rebels alone in third place.

Crescenta Valley

The Falcons of Crescenta Valley were able to get their second league win of the season after sweeping Glendale, the last place team in the Pacific League, on Wednesday.

Crescenta Valley will look to take a big step Friday, when the Falcons host Arcadia at 7 p.m. After that, the tough schedule continues, with rematches against Burroughs and Claremont before they host their tournament next weekend.

Kevin Taylor's "Boys Volleyball Notebook" appears weekly across all Patch sites in the San Gabriel Valley.