The South Torrance and Burroughs High volleyball programs have one thing in common and that is that both dominate their respective leagues and have to look elsewhere to find quality competition.
So the two sides have made it a tradition in recent years to face one another.
Friday evening Burroughs found out how tough the No. 5 rated team in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll is, as the visiting Spartans earned a 25-20, 25-21, 25-18 victory.
“I don’t think it’s a shame losing to a team that is ranked top 10 in Division 1,” Burroughs Coach Joel Brinton said. “I think we’re trying to do the right thing by trying to play these guys and challenge ourselves.”
South Torrance (10-0), which won the prestigious Redondo Tournament last weekend, was led by opposite hitter Luke Krzmarzick, who set the tone early on.
“We knew they would be a hard team coming in,” said Krzmarzick, who has signed with Concordia University in Irvine. “This was a really good game coming out here and playing them.”
Burroughs (5-4) had things tied at 16 in the first game before the Spartans pulled away thanks to some fine play from freshman Michael Faloona.
Cole Kaitz, who led Burroughs with 10 kills, tried to help the Indians recover with one of his kills that made it 24-20.
Burroughs fell behind again in the second game, thanks to superb play from Krzmarzick.
Diego Rosal, who finished with 6 kills, helped mount a rally. However, it was not enough for the Indians to make a comeback.
The Indians struggled once again in the third game, before a kill from Krzmarzick, finished things off.
Connor Burroughs had six kills for the Indians. Setter Jose Solano had 2o assists. Sam Tipton had 10 digs for Burroughs, and Kaitz added eight.
The Indians will host St. John Bosco Tuesday at 6 p.m.
