By Rick Assad
Hoping to make the CIF Southern Section playoffs, the Burroughs High girls’ volleyball team made a strong case after sweeping visiting La Canada in an Arroyo League match on Thursday afternoon.
Bolstered by solid overall play from senior middle blocker Zoe Davis, senior outside hitter Trinity Taylan and junior outside hitter Amelia Walsh, the Bears downed the Spartans 25-20, 25-21-25-11.
The Spartans (16-10 and 4-2 in league) didn’t back down and proved resilient but ultimately couldn’t keep pace despite fine play from senior opposite hitter/middle hitter Luella Lewis and senior setter Matilda Kemp.
Longtime Burroughs head coach Edwin Real sees keen improvement recently and hopes this will help his team reach the postseason.
“We’ve been on an upswing. Although we went 1-3 last weekend at the Redondo Tournament, I felt we played well and it carried over to tonight,” he said.
In the clinching set, Walsh (14 kills) added a push to make it 5-1 and Walsh tossed in a kill that made it 6-1.
Walsh’s spike extended the lead to 7-4 and it became 12-7 on a winner from Taylan (match-best 16 kills).
Junior opposite hitter Alex Hammeke”s blast made it 13-7 and a winner from Davis (seven kills) made it 14-7 as the Spartans needed a time out.
When Taylan added a kill, it became 15-8 and the advantage became 16-8 on yet another spike from Taylan.
Taylan had more points in her as she tossed in back-to-back winners that made it 19-8 and 20-8.
A spike by Hammeke (five kills) saw the Bears (14-14 and 2-5 in league) move in front 21-8 as La Canada asked for a stoppage in play.
Sophomore setter Lola Juarez (20 assists) tossed in an ace as it became 22-8 and Taylan sprinkled in a kill that made it 22-8
A push from Taylan saw the Bears dance ahead 23-10. A kill from Walsh made it 24-11 and an ace from senior defensive specialist Emma De Cunzo Steinglass saw the set and match concluded.
“Lola [Noguchi] and Lily did a great job of getting the ball to our middle blockers early off good passing from Joanna, Amelia and Emma,” Real said. “Emma did really well! Zoe and Alex did their job of putting the ball away when they got the ball.”
Real knows what Walsh is capable of and it’s quite a bit as she can play big and battle much taller front-line players who are much taller in many instances.
“Yes, Amelia is always solid with her passing, hitting and defense, especially for her size going up against much taller blockers,” he said.
In the first game, the Bears led 3-1 on a kill from Walsh and when De Cunzo Steinglass delivered a service ace that made it 4-1.
Davis contributed a kill and Davis chipped in with a winner that extended the cushion to 6-3.
Burroughs led 9-4 on an ace from Walsh and Taylan mixed in a winner for a 11-7 margin.
Hammeke added a kill and Davis contributed a laser for a 15-11 edge. A Walsh winner extended the margin to 16-11, and junior middle blocker Madeline Bixler added a kill for the Bears who led 20-15.
Hammeke’s kill made it 22-18 and Taylan’s spike made it 25-20 as the Bears led one game to none.
In the middle set, De Cunzo Steinglass delivered an ace that made it 4-1 and Walsh contributed a kill for a 5-3 edge.
Davis added a spike for an 8-6 cushion and Juarez sprinkled in a push for a 13-8 lead.
Walsh’s dagger saw the lead become 16-10 as La Canada needed to stop the game and a Walsh kill made it 17-12.
Davis chimed in with a winner that made it 18-14 and Taylon’s kill and two pushes made it 20-17, 21-17 and 22-18.
When Walsh tossed in a kill the lead became 24-20 and a winner from Walsh made it two games to none.
Senior defensive specialist Joanna Brain added nine digs for the Bears and junior setter Noguchi added 12 assists.
