La Cañada High girls’ volleyball unable to force split atop Rio Hondo League standings

LA CAÑADA — Despite a valiant and stunning comeback, the La Cañada High girls’ volleyball team’s attempt to force its way into first place in the Rio Hondo League was halted by rival South Pasadena.

The Spartans rallied for an improbably victory in the fourth game, but came up short in a 21-25, 25-16, 25-20, 22-25, 15-13 win for the visiting Tigers on Tuesday afternoon during senior salute day.

With the victory, La Cañada (9-6 overall, 6-2 in league) appears bound for second place in league behind South Pasadena (13-5, 8-0), which clinched a share of the league crown.

“I can’t say we’re disappointed,” Spartans Coach Brock Turner said. “The girls played hard and they had an incredible comeback. I was really impressed with their fight and that they never quit. We just didn’t have enough in the end.”

The Spartans took two-point leads in the fifth game at 7-5 and 8-6 on a kill from senior outside hitter Taylor Page, who led her team with 25 kills.

Yet, from that point, South Pasadena rallied with a 5-1 run, highlighted by blocks from Sophia Hathaway and Rowan Leddy, which culminated on a Spartans’ attacking error to take an 11-9 lead.

La Cañada did rally and eventually pulled even at 12 on a spike from Jenna Gray, who finished with 13 kills.

Unfortunately for the Spartans, the Tigers scored three of the next four points, including a block from Kate Kutzer that sealed the 15-13 win.

“We really wanted it, but South Pasadena played a little better at the end,” said Page, who added 12 digs and an ace. “I think we’re even teams and it’s too bad we couldn’t win this one.”

A fifth game seemed unrealistic when South Pasadena stormed out to a 20-9 advantage in the fourth game and was only five points away from closing out the Spartans.

Down double digits, the Spartans chipped away with five straight points to force South Pasadena Coach Ben Diaz to call a timeout at 20-14.

The break momentarily worked, as the Spartans committed a service error on the very next possession.

Yet, South Pasadena never climbed back into control, as La Cañada scored the next eight points in taking an improbable 23-21 lead on a Tigers’ attacking error.

“That was the fight I was proud to see,” Turner said. “We could have easily lost, but we didn’t.”

South Pasadena closed the gap to 23-22 on a Spartans’ centerline violation, but never came any closer.

La Cañada closed out the thrilling victory and a 16-3 run with back-to-back kills from Page.

“I don’t know where that came from, but I know we didn’t want to lose,” Page said. “We wanted to at least get to a fifth game.”

The Spartans started out strong with a 25-21 victory over the Tigers, who defeated La Cañada the first time the teams met, 3-1, on Oct. 9.

South Pasadena reverted back to form with 25-16 and 25-20 wins in the second and third games, respectively, and nearly won in four.

Senior Haley Miller added seven kills for La Cañada, while Taylor Kramer chipped in 11 digs and four aces, senior Melissa Horner tallied 30 digs and Leigh Sclafani totaled 44 assists.