The La Cañada High School varsity girls’ volleyball team came away with a crucial Rio Hondo League victory against rival South Pasadena, 15-25, 25-11, 27-25, 25-19, at South Pasadena High School on Sept. 20.
“Obviously wins feel great and I am really proud,” La Cañada coach Laura Browder said. “It’s just a testament to the hard work and the culture that the girls have built over the last couple of years and I just feel privileged to be a part of it.”
The Spartans and Tigers came into the match with unbeaten Rio Hondo League records. The victory kept La Cañada (14-8 overall, 4-0 in league) at the top of the league standings.
This win not only extended the Spartans’ remarkable league winning streak to 23 matches dating back to 2019, but it also marked their fifth consecutive league win over rival South Pasadena.
As expected, the clash between two Rio Hondo League powerhouses lived up to the hype, with the Spartans and Tigers fiercely contesting each set to secure control of the court.
La Cañada had a somewhat sluggish start, conceding the first game by a 10-point margin. However, the Spartans quickly regrouped and surged to a 5-1 lead at the outset of the second set. Senior Haley Clark’s ace propelled the score to 7-1, prompting South Pasadena to call its first timeout. Following the break, Clark returned and aced yet another serve.
The Spartans demonstrated exceptional defensive skills, courtesy of seniors Chloe Nussbaum and Emma Reed, ensuring they maintained a lead of no less than four points throughout the second set. Nussbaum’s contributed 29 digs, three aces and two assists, while Reed racked up a team-high 10 blocks with five digs.
“My libero Chloe sometimes doesn’t have the sexy kills but that girl keeps our team alive and we would not be the level of team that we are if it wasn’t for her hard work and dedication on defense,” Browder said.
Meanwhile, the offensive duo of Clark and junior Ashby Zubchevich posed challenges for South Pasadena (13-7, 3-1). Clark’s three consecutive kills forced SPHS to call its second timeout facing an 18-9 deficit. After the break, Clark’s ace extended the Spartans’ lead to a comfortable double-digit margin, followed by Zubchevich’s kill that leveled the match at one game apiece. Zubchevich racked up 18 kills, 12 digs, one ace and one block, while Clark produced 18 kills, six digs, four aces and two blocks.
“Shout-out to South Pas, they obviously came ready to play us. They had really great energy and a great game plan that forced us to change our lineup,” Browder said. “The first set, we were a little low energy and I’m just really proud of how my girls responded. You could tell from the first set they probably had [the] game planned against Hailey because she is an incredible hitter on the right.”
After cruising to an easy win in the second set, the Spartans encountered a more challenging situation in the third game when they quickly fell behind 4-1. However, LCHS regained its momentum behind sophomore Vani Tatoulian’s block, which narrowed the gap to two points. A pair of kills by Clark then leveled the match at 10-10.
The third game remained close, but the Spartans trailed 24-22 late in the set following a pair of South Pasadena kills, and faced the possibility of a one-set deficit. La Cañada called its second timeout, and its hopes were kept alive when South Pas committed a serving error. A crucial block by Tatoulian and freshman Maya Purdy tied the game at 24, and a pair of kills from Zubchevich and a South Pasadena error secured a 2-1 match advantage for the Spartans.
While the fourth game remained highly competitive, the Spartans had already found their stride. A block by LCHS freshman Luella Lewis tied the fourth set at 3-3, initiating a 5-1 scoring run. Although South Pas managed to narrow the score to two points at one stage, the Spartans maintained control of the court, executed their game plan effectively and ultimately secured both the fourth set and the league match.
Senior Tatum Purdy amassed 35 assists, seven digs, two kills, one ace and one block, while Maya Purdy produced 12 digs, one kill and one block. Lewis chipped in seven blocks and two digs, while Tatoulian registered five blocks and three digs. Junior Danica Eggleston tallied two aces and one dig, while junior Irelyn Fung had one dig.
LCHS competed in the Durango Fall Classic on Sept. 22 and 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and finished the two-day tournament with a 4-3 record.
The Spartans collected wins against Skyview High of Nampa, Idaho, 25-22, 25-26; Rancho Cucamonga, 25-17, 25-22; Orem High of Utah, 25-17, 25-18; and Rancho High of Las Vegas 25-12, 25-16. LCHS suffered losses against Hockaday High of Dallas, Texas, 18-25, 25-21, 23-25; Marymount High of Los Angeles, 23-25, 17-25; and Cathedral Catholic High of San Diego, 17-25, 23-25. Individual statistics were not reported to the Outlook Valley Sun.
First-place La Cañada will host Monrovia in a league match on Sept. 28 at 5:30 p.m. before hosting Temple City on Oct. 5.
FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART
The Tologs competed in the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada, and finished the two-day tournament 55th overall with a 1-5 record. Across six tournament matches, senior Mikayla Hsieh amassed 46 kills and 56 digs, senior Lindsey Du racked up 68 digs and nine aces, junior Piper Scherbert contributed 29 kills, freshman Allexa Valencia produced 63 assists and 48 digs, and junior Ally Du chipped in 52 assists and 41 digs.
FSHA lost to Campolindo High of Moraga in three games, 25-18, 22-25, 23-25, in its tournament finale on Sept. 23.
Senior Luisa Madrigal racked up 11 kills, 11 digs and two blocks, Hsieh chipped in nine kills, nine digs and one assist, and Scherbert finished with nine kills, one dig and one assist. Valencia registered 18 assists, 13 digs and one ace, Lindsey Du tallied 16 digs, three aces and two assists, and Ally Du recorded 14 assists, six digs and two aces. Sophomore Grace McCarthy produced five kills, five blocks, two aces and two digs while senior Veronica Udell contributed three kills, two blocks and two digs. Sophomore Alexandra Carr notched one kill and one dig, while freshman Sophia Wright had one dig.
The Tologs lost to Lakewood in three games, 23-25, 25-13, 13-25, in a tournament match on Sept. 23.
Hsieh recorded 10 kills and 10 digs, Valencia tallied 11 assists, nine digs and one kill, and Ally Du finished with 10 digs, seven assists and one ace. Madrigal contributed six kills, six digs and one block, while Lindsey Du registered seven digs, two assists and one ace. Grace McCarthy chipped in two kills, two blocks, one dig and one assist, Udell notched two blocks, one kill and one dig, and Wright collected two digs and one ace. Scherbert produced two kills, while freshman Clare McCarthy had two digs.
Flintridge Sacred Heart defeated Moapa Valley High of Overton, Nevada, in three games, 21-25, 25-23, 25-17, to open the second day of tournament play on Sept. 23.
Hsieh racked up 13 digs, 11 kills, two aces and one block, while Valencia tallied 13 assists, 11 digs and one ace. Lindsey Du finished with 19 digs, four assists and two aces, while Ally Du produced 16 assists, eight digs and one ace. Scherbert collected eight kills, two digs and one block, sophomore Grace Savarese contributed six kills and one dig, and Udell chipped in five kills and four digs. Wright had five aces, four digs, one kill and one assist, while Grace McCarthy contributed three kills, three digs and one block. Carr notched two blocks and one kill, while junior Sophia Astacaan had three digs.
The Tologs were swept by Centennial High of Las Vegas, 20-25, 24-26, to end the first day of tournament action on Sept. 22.
Hsieh recorded eight kills, seven digs and one block, Grace McCarthy tallied four kills, two blocks and one dig, and Udell chipped in four kills, one block and one dig. Valencia finished with nine digs, nine assists and one ace, while Madrigal contributed eight digs, two kills and two blocks. Ally Du produced six digs and six assists, while Lindsey Du registered five digs and one assist. Scherbert notched three blocks, three digs and two kills, while Clare McCarthy collected two blocks and one dig. Wright had two assists and one dig, while Savarese was credited with three digs.
FSHA was swept by Alemany High of Mission Hills, 11-25, 27-29, in a tournament matchup on Sept. 22.
Hsieh chipped in 11 digs, six kills, one ace and one assist, while Lindsey Du registered 11 digs, two assists and one ace. Savarese contributed five kills, Scherbert finished with three kills, two blocks and one dig, and Udell recorded three kills and two blocks. Valencia tallied seven assists, two digs and one ace, while Ally Du produced six assists, four digs and one kill. Grace McCarthy collected three digs, two blocks and one assist, Wright had two digs and one assist, and Astacaan notched two blocks.
The Tologs lost to Kamehameha Kapalama High of Honolulu, Hawaii, 12-25, 17-25, in their tournament opener on Sept. 22.
Lindsey Du finished with 10 digs, two aces and two assists, while Ally Du recorded seven digs, three assists and one ace. Scherbert tallied five kills and one dig, while Madrigal contributed three kills and two digs. Hsieh registered six digs and two kills, while Valencia was credited with five assists and four digs. Udell chipped in one kill, while Grace McCarthy and Carr each had one dig.
Flintridge Sacred Heart was swept at Chaminade High in West Hills 18-25, 16-25, 19-25 in an Angeles League match on Sept. 20.
Hsieh collected 13 digs and 10 kills, Valencia racked up 14 digs, 14 assists and one ace, and Madrigal registered 14 digs, five kills, one block and one assist. Ally Du tallied 11 assists and nine digs, while Lindsey Du produced 10 digs and one assist. Grace McCarthy finished with eight digs, five kills and one block, Scherbert recorded four kills, three digs and one block, and Udell chipped in four kills and one dig. Meanwhile, Carr added one dig.
The Tologs (12-12, 2-1) will host Sherman Oaks Notre Dame on Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. before visiting Immaculate Heart High in Los Angeles on Oct. 2.
FLINTRIDGE PREP
The Wolves swept host St. Genevieve High in Panorama City, 25-16, 25-20, 25-13, in a nonleague matchup on Sept. 22 as Abbie Callaway racked up 12 kills, 10 digs and two aces.
Makayla Jones finished with 10 kills, four digs and two blocks, Jessica Powell registered 10 kills, and Marissa Halley produced 17 digs and three aces.
Flintridge Prep won a thrilling Prep League showdown over visiting Mayfield Senior of Pasadena in five games, 16-25, 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 17-25, on Sept. 21 as Abbie Callaway contributed 18 kills, 11 digs, two blocks and one ace.
Ashlyn Nam amassed 53 assists, two kills and one ace, while Powell chipped in 14 kills and two blocks. Halley tallied 17 digs, while Jaleen Tseng recorded 12 digs. Frankie Callaway finished with nine kills, while Jones collected five kills and four blocks. Natalia Pradhan notched five digs and four kills, while Clara Bassuk had five digs.
The Wolves lost a league contest at Rio Hondo Prep in Arcadia in five games, 25-22, 23-25, 12-25, 25-23, 13-15 on Sept. 19.
Powell contributed 13 kills and three blocks, Jones finished with six blocks and four kills, and Nam tallied six aces.
Fourth-place Flintridge Prep (11-5, 4-4) will host Palos Verdes Chadwick for a league match on Sept. 28 at 5:30 p.m. before hosting Westridge School of Pasadena on Oct. 3.
First published in the September 28 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
