League championship still in sights for La Cañada boys’ volleyball after loss to South Pasadena

LA CAÑADA — History was the talk before and after Thursday afternoon’s Rio Hondo League boys’ volleyball showdown between visiting South Pasadena High and La Cañada.

With a chance to sit alone atop the league standings, the Spartans struggled early and were unable to rally against four-time-reigning league champion South Pasadena, which picked up a crucial 25-22, 25-18, 25-27, 28-26 victory.

With the triumph, the Tigers (13-6, 5-1 in league) forced their way into a first-place tie and avenged an earlier 3-1 setback in South Pasadena on March 31.

While the loss allows for the possibility of a split league title, it would still give the Spartans (16-6, 5-1) a share of the program’s first league crown since 2006 and only its second-ever championship.

“That’s the positive we’ll take away from that,” said La Cañada Coach Otto Lacayo, whose team is the only league squad to have beaten South Pasadena in the last four years. “We still have a great chance to make history and win league. That’s what we’ll shoot for.”

Senior Connor Walbrecht led La Cañada with 19 kills, 23 assists and nine digs, while Mel Schroeder added 17 kills, Nolan Sheow contributed 22 assists and Connor Belcher tallied 17 digs.

Lacayo and the Spartans believe Schroeder was short-changed one kill and the opportunity for more when a spike from the senior outside hitter appeared to land inbound with the score tied at 26 in the fourth game.

The game officials called the ball out of play, huddled with the side judges and affirmed the decision, which gave the Tigers a 27-26 advantage.

On the very next possession, South Pasadena’s Greg Luck closed out a masterful afternoon as the senior tallied the final of his match-high 32 kills on a blistering shot that closed out a 28-26 win and a 3-1 victory.

“I think the passing was just awesome and it was a big difference,” said Luck, in reference to brother Max Luck, who was making his debut at setter after missing most of the season with a football injury. “The first time we played La Cañada, we were intimidated and we didn’t get the job done. We did today.”

Lacayo couldn’t believe the call afterward.

“I think we were robbed on a blown call there at the end,” Lacayo said. “At the same time, though, we shouldn’t have put ourselves in that position. We shouldn’t have had to come back from two games against a very good team.”

Greg Luck was dominant with 10 kills in a 25-18 second-game victory for the Tigers, while the Spartans seemed listless.

Down, 2-0, La Cañada showed increased passion and improved play in the third game, but still seemed destined to get swept as the Tigers led, 24-21, after a Spartans’ service error.

This time, it was South Pasadena that had a grievance with the officials as the Tigers argued over a kill attempt that was called out of play and allowed the Spartans to tie at 24.

A few possessions later, Schroeder put the Spartans ahead, 26-25, on a kill, while La Cañada earned its lone win on a centerline violation called against South Pasadena.

“We picked up our play in the third and fourth games,” Walbrecht said. “We wanted to beat them again and win this for ourselves. The bad news is that we didn’t do it, but we still have a chance to win league.”

The Spartans came close to winning the first game as they led, 21-19, after a kill from Schroeder.

However, South Pasadena ran off a game-winning 6-1 run clinched on a block from Matt Scholtz for the victory.