JB Girls’ Volleyball Squad Sweeps Pasadena

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(Photo by © Ross A. Benson)
By Rick Assad
Sports Editor

 

Entering Thursday’s Pacific League girls’ volleyball match, Burroughs High was winless in three nonleague matches, while visiting Pasadena divided two.

Sometimes records don’t matter as the Indians easily turned away the Bulldogs, 25-11, 25-13, 25-17, in a Pacific League encounter behind sophomore middle blocker Marin Grote’s match-best 12 kills and senior outside hitter Danielle Ryan’s nine winners.

Starting from the opening stanza, the Indians controlled the tempo with crisp passing, solid defense and well-placed shots that Pasadena had difficulty defending.

“We did a real good job of serving today,” Burroughs coach Edwin Real said. “Danielle did a good job, especially in the first game and the third game.”

The Bulldogs’ best effort came in the third game which was tied at 2-2, 4-4, 5-5, 9-9, and 10-10, before the Indians pulled ahead 18-10 on kills from Grote that made it 12-10, Ryan’s two consecutive aces that made it 13-10 and 14-10, Grote’s blast that made it 15-10, and Ryan’s three straight aces.

(Photo by © Ross A. Benson)
Burroughs’ middle blocker Caleigh Paster (#33) and Nia Cathcart meet at summit. (Photo by © Ross A. Benson)

The Bulldogs (1-2 and 0-1 in league) came within 18-12, before Burroughs went on a five-point blitz to make it 23-12 on Ryan’s kill, junior opposite hitter Sophia Rizzotti’s winner, and senior defensive specialist Zoe Baer’s three straight service aces.

Pasadena came within 23-17 on Artemesia Meier’s block, but Burroughs scored the final two points on winners from Grote.

“Marin is one of our “go-to” hitters,” Real said, “and so is Danielle. They’re both high-percentage hitters. Our setters did a real good job of getting them in position to score.”

The opening frame was knotted at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, and 9-9 on a smash from Indians’ junior middle blocker Caleigh Paster.

From that point forward, it was all Burroughs (1-3 and 1-0 in league), which tallied the next dozen points. Some of the highlights included two winners and a block from Rizzotti, two kills from Ryan, two winners from Paster, and sophomore setter Lauren Zedlar’s ace.

(Photo by © Ross A. Benson)
Pasadena’s Sophia Courtney (#5) tries for a point. (Photo by © Ross A. Benson)

The Indians took four of the next six points as Ryan delivered a kill to make it 22-10. Grote’s winner gave Burroughs a 23-11 lead, and an ace from senior defensive specialist Katheryn Dominguez made it 24-11. Sophomore outside hitter Julianna Cottrell’s rocket gave the Indians the game.

A similar pattern held for the middle game as it was tied at 1-1 and 3-3, but Burroughs’ dominance became evident as the Indians went on a seven-point spurt to move in front 10-3 with Grote contributing four kills, Cottrell one winner, sophomore setter Payton Jensen one kill, and senior opposite hitter Jessica Rury one smash.

Burroughs dashed in front 16-6 on Ryan’s kill and moved ahead 17-9 on Ryan’s bullet. The Indians led 24-10 on Dominguez’s three aces, Rizzotti’s kill, Ryan’s slam and Grote’s winner.

Pasadena rallied and pulled within 24-13 on Sophia Courtney’s service ace, but the Indians scored the final point on a kill from Grote.