Guards make way to quarterfinals

BURBANK — Both the Bellarmine-Jefferson High and Burroughs girls’ volleyball teams had to hit the road Thursday for second-round postseason matches.

While the Guards had to play a Division IVAA match at California Lutheran, the Indians ventured to play host Diamond Bar in a Division IIA contest.

While Bell-Jeff will be moving on in the playoffs, Burroughs’ season came to an end.

The Guards were able to settle down to notch a 25-22, 23-25, 25-14, 25-16 victory.

“Because of injuries we had to switch some things around,” Bell-Jeff Coach Miguel Segura said. “We had a different setter and a different libero. But after losing that second game, we were able to settle down and play better.”

The win puts Bell-Jeff into the quarterfinals. The Guards (16-6) — the Santa Cruz League champions — will host Pacifica Christian in a 7 p.m. match.

The Seawolves (22-7) are the champions of the Heritage League. Pacifica Christian got past Desert, 25-22, -2519, 25-21, in its second-round match.

Jocelyn Cervantes had 21 kills, four blocks and seven digs and Taryn Nelson had 17 kills for the Guards.

A win would put the Guards into the semifinals Tuesday. The Guards advanced to the division title match last season.

In its first-round match earlier this week, Bell-Jeff defeated Sacred Heart of Jesus, 25-9, 25-15, 25-19.

“We’re happy that we get to play Saturday’s [match] at home,” Segura said.

For Burroughs (16-6), it fell to the Bahamas, 25-21, 25-17, 25-23.

The Indians were the runner-up in the Pacific League. Diamond Bar (15-9) is the No. 4 ream from the Hacienda League.

“We didn’t play very well,” Burroughs Coach Edwin Real said. “We didn’t pass the ball that well at all.”

Kathy Henry led the Indians with 11 kills and teammate Megan Stephenson added eight.