La Canada Uninjured and Still Unbeaten

No sniffles. No sprained ankles. No doubt.

For the first time all season, the La Canada High girls’ volleyball team is healthy.

And if the score of a playoff match counted monetarily and mentally, the Spartans could also be called wealthy and wise after a 15-9, 15-11, 13-15, 15-10, victory over Notre Dame in a Southern Section Division III-AA quarterfinal Saturday night at Notre Dame.

The Spartans (18-0) trailed in every game, sometimes earlier and sometimes later, but rallied at important times.

Kelly Gaudino delivered 19 kills and Julie Taylor added 11 for La Canada after both missed time this season because of ankle injuries.

“We’re fired up and ready to play,” said Gaudino, who had six kills in the second game.

The fourth-seeded Spartans better remain fired up. They play top-seeded Bishop Montgomery and 6-foot-3 middle blocker Katie Olsovsky in a semifinal Tuesday.

“I know she’s an All-American,” Gaudino said. “I’ve seen her in the newspaper a lot. That’ll be the toughest match of the year, but we’re not going to sell ourselves short.”

Notre Dame (12-7) hurt itself by not holding onto leads. The Knights were ahead, 6-5, in the first game and led, 7-6, in the second game, but dropped both.

“We were getting an opportunity for tons of points and we didn’t connect,” said Coach Neil Coffman of Notre Dame, who received 17 kills from Rachel Nelson and 16 kills from Sarah Braga.

Notre Dame turned the tables on La Canada, coming back from a 13-12 deficit to win the third game.

But La Canada took a 13-6 lead en route to winning the final game.

“Things are working out really well for us now,” said Coach Kevin Boyke of La Canada.