Volleyball

SOUTH PASADENA - The South Pasadena High boys' volleyball team had to play Saturday evening's CIF Southern Section Division III quarterfinal playoff match against Heritage Christian not at home as scheduled, but a few blocks away at South Pasadena Middle School. A bingo game has been slated for the Tigers' home gym. Yep, South Pasadena got bumped for bingo. No matter. The way the Tigers played for much of Saturday, they would have been successful regardless of the venue, as South Pasadena defeated Heritage Christian in four games, 25-15, 20-25, 25-15, 25-19.

Michael Bacall, St. Francis, Sophomore, Opposite Hitter Was a consistent contributor for the Knights, collecting 232 kills, to help lead the team. Matt Grace, St. Francis, Senior, Setter Playing in the tough Mission League, he tallied 599 assists for the Knights. Nolan Jimbo, Flintridge Prep, Senior Outside Hitter Played key role for Rebels, notching 164 digs, 115 kills and 24 aces to earn All-Prep League second-team honors. Nick LaFrance, Burroughs, Junior, Middle Blocker The first-team all-league pick tallied 175 kills to go along with 30 blocks, 16 aces and a school-record .367 hitting percentage.

Kendall Walbrecht of La Cañada Flintridge and a member of Girl Scout Troop 5921 established a weeklong volleyball clinic for the children of the Burbank Boys and Girls Club as part of her Gold Award project. Walbrecht raised funds by receiving donations from friends and La Cañada Flintridge Girl Scout troops, and holding a fundraiser at New Moon restaurant in Montrose. With the $1,400 she raised, Walbrecht purchased two outdoor tables for the Boys and Girls Club, donated sports equipment and taught children the importance of eating healthy and keeping active.

This is the final in a four-part series looking back on the sports accomplishments of the four local high schools over the past school year. This installment is Providence High : Basketball took the center stage for the Pioneers during the 2010-11 campaign. While a Providence boys' player was shattering school records and putting up monster numbers, the girls' hoop squad was rolling to a share of its second straight Liberty League championship. Without a doubt, the most exciting basketball player in the area last season was Pioneers' junior Patrick Gonzalez, who rewrote the record books at the school.

BURBANK - Twice one point away from grabbing sole possession of first place in the Pacific League, the Burroughs High boys' volleyball team couldn't close the deal. It left the Indians frustrated, but something they won't forget the rest of the way. “It comes down to execution,” said Burroughs Coach Joel Brinton, who saw visiting Claremont post a 25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 20-25, 17-15 win against the Indians on Friday night. “They executed and we didn't. Period. “It's a tough loss, but it's something we need to learn from.

GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL Burbank d. West Ranch, 25-18, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22 : Rachael Woods had a team-high 16 kills and teammate Jamie Gonzalez added 12 kills to help pace the Bulldogs to a nonleague victory Thursday at home. Juliana Marx had eight kills, four digs and two aces, Stefanie Lin had 11 digs and Tyler Brooks had 25 assists, 11 digs and three aces for Burbank. Bellarmine-Jefferson d. Hoover, 25-17, 25-11, 25-14 : The Guards rolled to an easy nonleague win Thursday at home.

FIRST TEAM Robert Adamson, Junior, Opposite Hitter, South Pasadena All-Rio Hondo League first-team honoree averaged 3.3 kills, and 1.5 digs per game. He helped the Tigers grab first leage title since 2008 and reach CIF Southern Section Division III quarterfinals. Michael Bacall, Senior, Outside Hitter, St. Francis Collected 184 kills, 81 digs and 24 aces to help the Golden Knights qualify for the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs. Earned a spot on the All-Mission League first team.

BOYS' VOLLEYBALL El Segundo d. Burbank, 25-17, 25-21, 25-12 : The Bulldogs had a lead in the second game of their CIF Southern Section Division II first-round playoff match Tuesday on the road, but couldn't hold on, suffering a three-game sweep. After losing the first game, the Bulldogs (11-16) were ahead, 20-16, only to see the Eagles (16-3) go on a 7-0 run to take control of the second. "That was the point that really hurt us, being up and then them coming back," Burbank Coach Patrick McMenamin said.

BOYS' VOLLEYBALL Burroughs d. West Ranch, 25-23, 27-25, 25-14 : The Indians enjoyed a successful season opener with a win Wednesday on the road. Daniel Jacobs led the way with 11 kills, nine digs and seven aces. Teammate Daniel Marbach added eight kills and Shayne Beamer had seven. BJ Lagmay led the Burroughs offense with 25 assists. San Marino d. Burbank: 18-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 15-10 : The Bulldogs lost a close nonleague match Thursday at home. Derian Blandon and Justin Saisirikul had nine kills each, Elijah Cowart had 19 digs, Josh Wright had four blocks and Ryan Garcia had 34 assists for Burbank.

BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH - It wasn't going to happen on this team's watch. No way was this Bellarmine-Jefferson High girls volleyball team going to be the first to lose a Santa Cruz League match in six years. Keeping the streak alive was a focus of this year's Guards squad, and the girls delivered. Bell-Jeff defeated St. Anthony in four sets, 25-16, 12-25, 25-21, 25-22, at home Tuesday to clinch its seventh consecutive Santa Cruz League title. The Guards have also won 52 consecutive leagues matches, dating back to 2006.