Indians fall in state playoffs

BURBANK — With an upset win Tuesday in the opening round of the Division I Southern California Regional Championshps, the Burroughs High boys’ volleyball team was looking to ride the state playoffs for as long as it could.

The No. 6-ranked Indians were hoping their luck at pulling off another upset hadn’t run out when they faced No. 2 Otay Ranch in a semifinal match Thursday in Southern San Diego County.

Despite playing one miraculous game against the Mustangs in Game 2, Burroughs just didn’t have enough to pull off another stunner, losing, 25-21, 10-25, 25-16, 27-25, in Chula Vista.

“We felt like we were right there with them,” Burroughs Coach Joel Brinton said. “We thought that if we hadn’t made some of the mistakes that we did, the outcome might have been different.”

Daniel Jacobs had 12 kills to pace the Indians. Robby Rutecki had 11 kills, Lucas Yanez added nine kills and 25 digs and Tyler Yanez had 32 assists.

Burroughs (34-5) advanced to the semifinals by defeating No. 3 Thousand Oaks, 25-22, 25-12, 23-25, 25-23, Tuesday on the road.

Otay Ranch (31-7) is enjoying a season in which it won a San Diego Section championship.

It was the first time Burroughs — which lost in the CIF Southern Section Division III final — participated in state competition in program history.

The loss brings to a close a record-breaking season for Burroughs. Along with winning its second-straight Pacific League championship, Burroughs advanced to a CIF Southern Section title match for the first time after not getting out of the second round in 2010. In addition, it has set a program record for victories in a season.