SPORTS ROUNDUP: Spartans win a classic against Palos Verdes
BOYS’ WATER POLO
La Cañada 16, Palos Verdes 15 (4OT): After slipping to No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Division III polls, the Spartans hit the road to take on the No. 3-ranked Sea Kings in Division III in what Spartans Coach Devon Borisoff said “felt like a playoff game.”
La Cañada’s Symeon Stefan scored the game-winner and finished with five goals, as did Chase Borisoff. Alden Geller scored four times for the Spartans.
“This is huge for us, we want to enter the playoffs as the No. 1 ranked team and this is a giant, giant step toward that,” Borisoff said. “We don’t play many [Division III] teams this year. This is a very high-level game between two top-three teams in our division and it was good for us. It showed our guys that we can get it done even when everything goes wrong. They fought through it no matter what and did not give up.”
The deck was stacked against La Cañada, which lost three of its starters going into overtime after each committed three fouls in regulation. The Spartans managed to hold Palos Verdes off the board thanks to strong play from their goalie Jeff Lee.
“Our goalie really kept us in it,” Borisoff said. “He made every block he had to in overtime. He came up huge for us today.”
La Cañada in South Coast Tournament: The Spartans finished 12th out of 32 teams with a 2-3 record in the ultra-competitive tournament in Orange County over the weekend.
La Cañada picked up wins over Villa Park (18-7) and El Toro (11-9), which was ranked eighth in CIF Southern Section Division I on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
Chase Borisoff finished with nine goals and seven assists in the Spartan victories. Jeff Lee had 12 saves against El Toro and Symeon Stefan scored five times against Villa Park.
The Spartans fell to Mater Dei (25-7), Santa Barbara (14-6) — the No. 1 team in Division I and third-ranked team in Division II, respectively — and Northwood (12-9).
GIRLS’ TENNIS
La Cañada 13, Temple City 5: The Spartans rebounded from being shut out by San Marino to start the Rio Hondo League season with a decisive win over the Rams at home.
La Cañada went undefeated in doubles play with Lynn Gilmor and Ana Dewar winning both of their sets in No. 3 doubles, 6-0, 6-0, before being subbed out for Claire Huh and Megan Knapp, 6-2. The Spartans got sweeps from Alison Chang and Sharyce Watanabe, 6-0, 6-2, 6-3, in No. 1 doubles and Emily Swanson Serena Zheng, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.
Sawa Keymeulen won two of three sets in singles, 6-3, 6-1, for La Cañada (5-4, 1-1 in league).
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy 15, Alemany 3: Flintridge Sacred Heart’s No. 1 doubles team of Breanna Ryan and Nicolette Harutunion swept, 6-0, 6-4, 6-0, in a Mission League opener Tuesday at the Fremont Tennis Center. The Tologs improved to 2-4.
Chadwick 15, Flintridge Prep 3: Each of the Rebels singles players — Abby Letts, Roya Ghessari and Maya Dunn — picked up a win in Prep League play Tuesday. Prep fell to 2-8, 1-3 in league.
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Chadwick 3, Flintridge Prep 0: The Rebels fell to 0-4 in the Prep League at home Tuesday, 25-16, 25-20, 25-21. Flintridge Prep freshman outside hitter Lauren Stiles finished with a team-high 11 kills, while Daniella Motte and Brynn McFadden added nine kills and 14 digs, respectively, for the Rebels (3-6).
GIRLS’ GOLF
La Cañada in Pacific League match: The Spartans finished fourth in their third league match at the Santa Anita Golf Course Monday with 233 points, behind Arcadia (197), Crescenta Valley (197) and San Marino (229). Melissa Leo carded a team-best 37 for even par. Jennifer Kim recorded a 47 for La Cañada, which got a 48 from Madelyn Merchant, a 50 from Keilee Bessho and a 51 from May Lo.