Pasadena Stops LC Girls’ Varsity Volleyball in Playoffs

After winning the Rio Hondo League championship, the La Cañada girls’ varsity volleyball team was hoping for a CIF title, but that was not to be.

The visiting Bulldogs stops the Spartans’ advance in the CIF Division II-A playoffs with a 3-1 quarterfinals win last Saturday. La Cañada finished 15-10 on the season.

Pasadena won the first game, 25-20, the Spartans took the second contest, 26-24, but the Bulldogs came back to capture the third and fourth games, 25-19 and 25-21.

Pasadena, rated the second best team in the division, improved to 24-0 with the win over La Cañada.

Courtney McCutchan led the Spartans with 10 kills. Monica Jung and Molly Berger followed with seven kills apiece.

In second round action last Thursday, the Spartans defeated host Yucaipa, 3-1.

La Cañada won the first two games, 25-18 and 25-22, lost the third game, 25-23, but won the fourth game, 25-20.

Jung topped the Spartans with 15 kills. Teammate Courtney McCutchan was next with 13 kills and Hayley Woodford came through with 36 assists.

La Cañada swept visiting Crescenta Valley, 3-0, in first round play on Nov. 7.

In the Spartans’ final league match of the season on Nov. 2, they defeated visiting San Marino, 3-1. La Cañada finished 9-1 in league to capture the league championship.

Kim McCutchan had 11 kills for the Spartans. Courtney McCutchan added 10 kills and Kirsten Oechsel chipped in five aces.