Yanez named MVP
BURBANK — The Burroughs High boys’ volleyball team was the surprise of the Pacific League this past season.
The Indians rebounded from a fourth-place finish in 2009 to become one of the top two squads in the league.
Along with two wins against Crescenta Valley for the first time, Burroughs also defeated powerhouse Claremont and earned a share of the league crown.
It was the first league championship for a program that has been in existence for just four years — all under Coach Joel Brinton.
The Indians also enjoyed other milestones during the campaign. Along with winning the Crescenta Valley Tournament championship — the program’s first tourney title — Burroughs also captured its first postseason contest.
With that type of success, it’s not surprising that Burroughs had a group of players who earned all-league honors. In fact, Burroughs had the most all-league selections of any team in the league.
Leading the way on the list was Tyler Yanez, a junior setter, who was voted co-player of the year with Geoff Powell form Claremont.
Yanez had a breakthrough season, setting school records for assists with 722 assists and blocks with 63. In addition, he had 68 kills and led team with 28 aces.
His brother, Lucas Yanez, a junior outside hitter and team captain, earned first-team honors. He set school records with 234 kills and 220 digs. He also had 23 aces and was the squad’s most consistent passer.
Also earning first-team accolades was junior middle blocker Nick LaFrance. He set a school record with a .367 hitting percentage to go along with 175 kills, 30 blocks and 16 aces.
Earning spots on the second team were sophomore middle blocker Ike Nwachie (212 kills and 39 blocks) and senior outside hitter Spencer Perez, who came back from knee surgery halfway through league to tally 33 kills, 68 digs and 14 aces.
Also making the second time was junior libero Kevin Trejo (129 digs) and captain Robby Rutecki, a sophomore outside hitter (74 kills, 90 digs, 13 blocks and 12 aces) was an honorable-mention choice.
Brinton, who has led his team to the postseason three of the program’s four years, was also honored, as he was named the Pacific League Coach of the Year.
Burroughs (23-8) defeated Hart, 25-21, 25-22, 25-19, to win its first-round CIF Southern Section Division II match.
The team also had an 11-match win streak during the season and won 19 of its final 21 matches.
Providence placed second in the Liberty League and lost in the first round of the Division IV playoffs to North Torrance, 25-14, 25-11, 25-15.
The Pioneers had three players make all-league: Gabriel Constantino, Kris Galvez and Mario Adriano.
Bellarmine-Jefferson didn’t make the playoffs and had no all-league selections.