Volleyball

BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH - The Bellarmine-Jefferson High girls' volleyball team had little trouble surging through its first two games Thursday in a Santa Cruz League match against visiting St. Mary's Academy. But in the third game, the Guards seemed to let up, and the Belles were able to pull out a tight victory in the stanza. The push-back by St. Mary's seemed to ignite the Guards, who roared back to capture the fourth game and walk off the court with a 25-8, 25-11, 28-30, 25-9 victory at home.

BURROUGHS HIGH - The Burbank High girls' volleyball team struggled in its opening game against Burroughs on Thursday. The Bulldogs didn't look particularly sharp and the Indians were able to dig almost everything Burbank's big hitters sent their way, taking the first frame in workmanlike fashion. But the Bulldogs proved why they are the first-place team in the Pacific League, and why they are determined to win their first league championship in 37 years. Paced by senior Stephanie Eskander, Burbank roared back to win the next three games and finished the evening with a 16-25, 25-14, 25-23, 25-17 victory at Burroughs.

PASADENA - If enough wasn't already at stake for the Burroughs High girls' volleyball team heading into Thursday's city rivalry match versus Burbank, a share of the Pacific League lead may just put the contest over the top. That's because the visiting Indians kept themselves in contention for a slice of league ownership after defeating host Pasadena 25-20, 25-16, 19-25, 25-20 in league play Tuesday afternoon. With the win, defending league champion Burroughs (5-3 overall, 5-1 in league)

Katie Hooper has produced an impressive track record at Burbank High over the course of the last four years. When a team has Hooper on its roster, success seems assured. During her freshman and sophomore seasons, Hooper was the starting goalkeeper for the Burbank girls' soccer team, helping it attain postseason berths both years. During her sophomore campaign in 2010, she was part of a team that stayed in contention for the Pacific League championship until the final regular-season match.

Members of the Bellarmine-Jefferson High girls' volleyball team realize that the rest of the Santa Cruz League is looking to knock the Guards off their lofty pedestal. Bell-Jeff entered Thursday's league opener on the road at St. Matthias with six straight championships to its credit. In addition, the Guards had not lost a league match in 44 tries, a streak that dates back to 2006. The Guards began their latest title quest in fine fashion, defeating the Victorians in three straight games, 25-21, 25-11, 25-20.

LA CRESCENTA - For the first two games of their Pacific League match Tuesday afternoon, the Burbank High and Crescenta Valley girls' volleyball teams went toe to toe. The squads exchanged holding the lead on several occasions and neither could mount more than a five-point lead in either game. However, in the third, the Falcons seemed to waver and the Bulldogs were ready to attack. Despite a spirited effort by Crescenta Valley, it wasn't able to topple the league-leading Bulldogs, falling in three games on its home court, 27-25, 25-21, 25-19.

BURBANK HIGH - For five years, her teams could not defeat their Pacific League nemesis. In her sixth year, her team knew it needed to upend its rival for a chance to play for a league championship. Coach Sarah Brown's Burbank High girls' volleyball team finally got the best of Arcadia on Tuesday. For the first time in their coach's tenure, the Bulldogs defeated the Apaches, and although it's just two games into league play, took a major step toward capturing a title for the first time in "forever.

PROVIDENCE - Bellarmine-Jefferson High girls' volleyball Coach Miguel Segura informed his team about a pertinent piece of information prior to its nonleague match Tuesday against Providence. The coach reminded his players that the Guards had not lost to the cross-town rival Pioneers since 2006. Behind the play of seniors Taryn Nelson and Mariah Bankhead, Bell-Jeff increased that winning streak to six with a 25-22, 25-14, 25-18 victory at Providence. The last time the Pioneers defeated the Guards was in 2006 under former coach James Jimenez, as they posted a 25-20, 25-16, 25-20 victory.

BURBANK HIGH - Communication, chemistry and consistency are all important elements to winning volleyball, and the Burbank High girls' squad displayed all three in its nonleague victory Tuesday against visiting Canyon. “The way we played together, our communication, and all the chemistry that we have [paid dividends],” Burbank senior Katie Hooper said were the keys to their second win in as many matches this season. Burbank won, 25-18, 22-25, 25-20, 25-22, to stay unbeaten going into Pacific League play, which starts Thursday against host Muir.

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.