By Rick Assad
Two quality volleyball teams took the floor and as expected, the nonleague girls’ match between host Burroughs High and La Salle went five sets on Tuesday night.
Both teams showed flashes of brilliance, and each played with determination and grit, but the Bears had more when it counted and mattered and edged the Lancers 25-14, 17-25, 25-17, 21-25, 15-12.
Senior middle blocker Zoe Davis and junior outside hitter Amelia Walsh were the offensive stars for the Bears (2-1).
Sophomore outside hitter Camila Beltre, whose father Adrian Beltre, a Hall of Fame third baseman with four major league baseball teams including seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was in attendance, and freshman outside hitter Charli Ramsey, led the way for the Lancers (0-1).
The deciding set was close early as it was knotted at 2-2 on an ace from La Salle’s junior setter Lauren Kasubuchi.
It became 3-3 on a winner from La Salle’s sophomore opposite hitter/middle blocker Clara Tessier and Beltre’s spike made it 4-4.
Walsh’s hit was off target, and it was tied at 8-8, but the Bears went on a 3-0 run as Walsh added a kill to make it 9-8. Walsh’s push extended the lead to 10-8, and a Davis service winner extended it to 11-8.
When Walsh tossed in a kill to make it 14-11 and get within one point of the victory, it became a reality when junior outside hitter Trinity Taylan nailed a spike.
Edwin Real is the longtime Burroughs head coach and saw improvement from his team.
“I thought we served well. We had a hard time with their big hitter but we did a good job of not backing down,” he said. “We blocked some and dug a bunch of balls that were hit hard. I liked our flow when things are going well. The kids have fun out there.”
The first set was deadlocked at 3-3 on a winner from La Salle’s sophomore setter Ariana Ruiz but Burroughs outscored the visitors 7-1 and led 10-4 on an ace from junior setter Lily Noguchi.
It became 14-5 on a bullet from Walsh.
Walsh then contributed three straight kills as it became 18-5, 19-5 and 20-5 in favor of the Bears.
The Lancers came within 23-14 on Ramsey’s ace as the Bears needed a time out. Ramsey’s hit saw the ball go out of bounds as the first game went to the Bears.
Burroughs led 5-3 in the third set on Walsh’s dagger and it became 11-9 on a winner from Davis.
Davis tossed in a block that made it 15-12 and when Davis contributed a spike it extended the lead to 18-16.
Junior middle blocker Madeline Bixler’s block for the Bears saw the hosts pull in front 20-16 as the Lancers requested time out.
Davis added two aces that made it 21-16 and 22-16. Walsh’s push saw the Bears lead 23-16 and Walsh’s kill secured the set and a two game to one lead.
The second game began well for the Bears who led 8-1 on a kill from Walsh as the Lancers asked for time.
La Salle led 10-9 on a rocket from Beltre and it was tied at 12-12 on Ramsey’s kill.
Ramsey’s block made it 15-12 and Ramsey added a winner that saw the Lancers march ahead 17-12. When Ramsey nailed a spike, the Lancers were in front 20-12.
Beltre’s push made it 22-15 and a kill from Ramsey saw La Salle move ahead 23-15. The set was won on a service miscue.
La Salle led 11-4 on a tapper from Beltre and Ramsey’s block made it 14-9 in the fourth set.
Kasubuchi’s push made it 19-16 and Beltre’s cannon made it 20-18.
Beltre’s kill saw the Lancers lead 22-18 as the Bears needed a time out and when Beltre added consecutive kills the lead became 22-19 and 23-19.
La Salle led 24-19 when Davis hit the ball out of bounds and Ramsey’s kill made it 25-21 that evened the match at two sets apiece.
