Burbank bounces back against Pasadena
BURBANK — Having suffered a stinging loss to Arcadia High five days earlier, members of the Burbank girls’ volleyball team wanted to prove that they had the resiliency to bounce back and keep their hopes of a Pacific League championship alive.
For the first two games Tuesday against visiting Pasadena, Burbank did just that. However, Pasadena proved it is a scrappy team by winning the third game. Luckily for Burbank, it was able to limit its game losses to just one, as it came on in the fourth game to record a 25-13, 25-20, 21-25, 25-19 victory.
The win keeps Burbank (11-1, 9-1 in league) tied with Arcadia (15-7, 9-1) for the league lead. The Bulldogs are attempting to capture their first league title in 37 years.
Burbank suffered a three-game loss to the Apaches Thursday after sweeping Arcadia in the teams’ first meeting Sept 18.
“We really needed to get back at it and get the win today,” said Burbank senior outside hitter Sharon Youn, who led the team with 10 kills. “We knew that we had to go out and really execute and play our game. I think we came out pumped up and we really wanted to play well.”
Pasadena (8-7, 3-6) wouldn’t go away easily. Other than the first game, it had a lead midway through the second game and began surging back in the fourth game.
“I’ll say one thing about the players on this team, they never give up,” said Pasadena Coach LaTheia Black, who is the program’s third coach this season. “We have been very close in a lot of our games this season. We just need to learn how to keep the momentum going. When we can keep our momentum going we can be a good team.”
Pasadena was paced by senior outside hitter Alexis James (nine kills) and senior middle blocker Bayley Neubauer (eight kills).
After breezing through the first game, Pasadena battled back and held an 11-10 advantage in the second. Burbank went in front and led, 20-19, before ending the game on a 5-1 run.
In the third game, Pasadena went in front, 4-3, and never trailed thereafter.
Burbank also played well in the fourth game, holding off Pasadena down the stretch.
“I’m happy that we were able to get the win,” Burbank Coach Sarah Brown said. “We haven’t had to bounce back from a loss before, and we were able to do that today.”
Burbank received eight kills and 19 digs from Katie Hooper, 19 digs from Whitney Mackey and 16 assists from Tyler Brooks.