First published in the May 5 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
The La Cañada High School varsity boys’ volleyball team was eliminated from the CIF-SS Division III playoffs after losing at Santiago High of Corona, 25-23, 25-12, 25-19, in the second round on Saturday. No individual statistics were reported to the Outlook Valley Sun.
The Spartans previously won their fifth straight match by sweeping visiting Highland High of Palmdale, 25-16, 26-24, 25-23, in last Thursday’s first round. Senior Korbin Christoph collected 19 kills, senior Chase Lin posted 10 kills, senior Jacob Nies finished with seven kills, and senior Ben Aydia tallied three kills.
La Cañada finished the season as the Rio Hondo League champions with a perfect 10-0 record (26-8 overall record), while Laura Browder became the first LCHS volleyball head coach to lead the Spartans to league titles for the boys and girls teams in the same season since Brock Turner did so in 2006.
FLINTRIDGE PREP
The Wolves were eliminated in the first round of the CIF-SS Division IV, falling to visiting Pacifica Christian High of Orange County, 25-23, 28-26, 25-22, last Thursday. Flintridge Prep finished as the Prep League champions with a perfect 8-0 record (20-6 overall).
The Wolves previously lost a nonleague match at La Cañada, 25-21, 36-34, 20-25, 25-22, in its regular-season finale. Flintridge Prep was also swept at neighboring St. Francis High, 25-21, 25-21, 25-15, in a nonleague match. No individual statistics were reported to the Pasadena Outlook.
ST. FRANCIS
The Golden Knights won their CIF-SS Division II second-round matchup by sweeping visiting San Clemente, 25-23, 25-23, 25-19, on Saturday.
SFHS, which finished the season third in the Mission League standings with a 4-2 record (22-6-1 overall), advanced to the CIF quarterfinal round and played Thousand Oaks yesterday; the result was unavailable by the Outlook Valley Sun’s press deadline. If victorious, the Golden Knights would advance to the semifinal round to meet either Servite High of Anaheim (21-9 overall) or Canyon High of Anaheim (19-3 overall) on Saturday, May 7, at 6 p.m.
Senior Robert Nardoni collected 11 kills, three blocks and 15 digs, sophomore Titus Rodz posted 11 kills, two blocks and five digs, and junior Travis Brown tallied 10 kills, one ace, two blocks and 12 digs in the win over San Clemente. Junior Gabe Metcalf registered two kills, two blocks, 10 digs and 30 assists, senior Mason Hasbrouck recorded three kills and two blocks, and junior Trevor Shackleton produced eight digs and three aces. Junior Blake Welsh had five blocks, while juniors Drew Miller and Aidan Lopez each finished with one ace.
St. Francis opened its CIF postseason run by sweeping Warren High in Downey, 25-14, 25-13, 25-19, in the first round last Thursday. Nardoni amassed 14 kills, seven digs, one ace and three blocks, while Brown collected eight kills and four digs. Welsh posted five kills and four blocks, Hasbrouck registered three kills and two blocks, and sophomore Will Martinez tallied three kills. Rodz recorded two kills, one ace and 12 digs, Metcalf finished with one kill, three blocks, 11 digs and 30 assists, senior Vince Ciampa had one kill and two digs, and freshman Ryan Bender produced one kill and one block.
