SOUTH PASADENA — For the second time in the short but illustrious 10-year history of the Burroughs High boys’ volleyball program, the Indians earned their way to a CIF Southern Section championship berth.
Burroughs clinched a spot in the Division II title contest with a 25-22, 25-23, 25-11 sweep of South Pasadena on Wednesday in a semifinal match on the road.
“It feels great to be able to make it to a CIF championship,” said Burroughs’ Connor Ludlum, who had 10 kills. “We have been working so hard for months to be able to make it this far and it’s nice to see that all of our hard work has paid off.
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Burroughs’ Jarrett Malone (8) reacts to victory with teammate Conner Ludlum as they celebrate with their team after defeating South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Jarrett Malone and Andrew D’Almada celebrate a big point against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Ryan Van Loo sets the ball in front of filled bleachers of Burroughs fans in the third set against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Cameron Capili sets a serve into play against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Bailey Carter gets a block that leads to a point against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Ryan Van Loo sets the ball against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Cameron Capili hits the ball into play against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Ryan Van Loo and a teammate reach over the net to keep the ball from crossing and score against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Conner Ludlum hits a kill against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs fans celebrate a point against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Jarrett Malone jumps into a coaches arms to celebrate a lead during a timeout called by South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Conner Ludlum hits a kill against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Ryan Van Loo dives out of bounds to hit the ball back into play, a play that energizes the team after scoring, to take a commanding lead in the third game against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Skyler Bercini hits a serve into play against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Cameron Capili sets a serve into play against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Conner Ludlum rises for the block against South Pasadena’s Maththew Ng in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Ryan Van Loo celebrates a point against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burroughs’ Conner Ludlum hits a kill against South Pasadena in a CIF semifinal boys’ volleyball match at South Pasadena High School on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Burroughs won the match 3-0. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
“I know we’re going to work even harder to be ready for the championship game. ...I really think we’re ready for this.”
Burroughs (27-5), which won its seventh straight Pacific League championship, will take on No. 1-seeded Oak Park in the championship Saturday at Cerritos at a time to be determined. Oak Park (30-4), the defending Division II champion, earned its spot in the final by sweeping West Ranch on Wednesday, 25-16, 25-14, 25-19.
Last season, Burroughs played Oak Park in a nonleague match and earned a victory in five games.
“We know they have a good program at Oak Park,” Burroughs Coach Joel Brinton said. “They have a very good setter and most of the of team is juniors. I look forward to seeing what we can do against them.”
The Indians, who have advanced to the semifinals four times, will be making their first appearance in a CIF championship since 2011, when they fell in four games to Cerritos Valley Christian.
Against South Pasadena (26-8), the runner-up from the Rio Hondo League, Burroughs received 16 kills and two blocks from Andrew Dalmada, 12 kills from Cameron Capili, 37 assists and three blocks from Ryan Van Loo and nine digs from Skyler Bercini.
The Tigers received a fine effort from Greg Luck, who ended with 16 kills.
“We knew they were going to be a well-coached team and you saw what their outside hitter can do, he’s just phenomenal,” Brinton said. “He is just one of those guys that if you just put the ball high for him, he’s going to find a way to put it down.
“But I’m really proud of our guys and the way that they battled, especially in those first two games. Our guys have practiced a lot playing in tight games down the stretch when the score is 22-22, so they know what to do and how to overcome that.”
Taking advantage of six kills from Luck in the first game, the Tigers took an early lead. The Indians were able to surge in front, however, 8-7, on a South Pasadena attacking error. But that lead was short-lived, and the Tigers went back ahead, 10-9, on a kill by Luck. South Pasadena then increased its advantage to five, 15-10, with the aid of eight Indians’ errors.
The Indians made up the deficit late in the opener and both teams took turns grabbing the lead, until Burroughs went in front, 23-22. Burroughs closed out the stanza on a kill by Dalmada and a South Pasadena attacking error.
In the second game, it was Burroughs which surged ahead early, taking a 13-5 lead. But the Tigers made a comeback and went ahead, 20-19, on a Burroughs error. The teams then knotted the score at 20, 22 and 23, before the Indians jumped ahead, 24-23, following a South Pasadena service error. Burroughs took the game and a 2-0 lead on a block from Van Loo.
In the third game, the Indians seemed to do everything right and South Pasadena looked powerless to do anything about it. Burroughs played almost flawless in the stanza, committing just three unforced errors. Burroughs took a 16-6 lead and never let the Tigers back into the game.
“We talk a lot about finishing and it’s nice to see that they heeded that advice in that third game,” Brinton said. “They actually finished the job like they were supposed to. They were just relentless in that third game, with our digging or serving and with cutting down on our mistakes. That’s the way I want to see them finish.”
