Burroughs High boys’ volleyball continues success with berth in CIF semifinals
Over the course of the last nine years, the Burroughs High boys’ volleyball team has enjoyed a wealth of success and has been one of most decorated programs in the city in any sport.
In just nine year of existence, the Indians have captured six straight Pacific League championships, advanced to the CIF Southern Section semifinals three times and played in a CIF championship contest once.
That third trip to the final four might just be the most difficult thus far for Burroughs, as it makes another appearance in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Wednesday on the road in a Division II contest against Valencia of Santa Clarita.
It is Burroughs’ first trek to the Division II semifinals, last having reaching the final four in Division III in 2012.
While the Indians, seeded No. 3, have been able to enjoy their share of success in a relatively short period of time, the No. 2-seeded Vikings have been a volleyball juggernaut for decades.
“We have definitely been aware of Valencia the whole year,” said Brinton, who has guided the program since its inception and piloted the Indians to the Division III championship match in 2011. “They have a long tradition of good volleyball up there and they have been a successful program for a long time.
“We were at a tournament where they were at and we were able to watch them a little bit and see how they do things, and I’m sure they did the same thing to us. They have some very good players.”
Burroughs (30-3), which won its sixth Pacific League championship by going 12-0, advanced to the semifinals with a three-game victory against West Torrance and four-game triumphs against La Sierra and Camarillo, the latter on Saturday in the quarterfinals.
Valencia (31-6, 10-0 in league) won the Foothill League title this season. The Vikings have made it a habit of winning the league crown, having captured 14 of the last 15. The team also has enjoyed a wealth of success in the playoffs, with CIF championships in 2003, ’04, ’06 and ’08 to its credit.
“Burroughs has been up there in the division all year and they definitely have been on our radar,” Valencia Coach Kevin Kornegay said. “We know what they’re about and we know they will be a challenge for us.
“What is great is that we’re playing our best volleyball of the season right now. We have been able to overcome some adversity and some changes with moving some guys around early. But we’ve been able to lock into a lineup and that’s paid off for us.”
The Vikings have made their way to the final four via three-game sweeps against Arcadia, Torrance and Capistrano Valley. While they are just one seeding apart in the Division II tournament, Valencia is ranked No. 11 in California and No. 12 in the nation my maxpreps.com, while Burroughs is ranked No. 16 and No. 18.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been this far in the playoffs, but it’s definitely something that we’ve had our sights set on this all year, and even the last couple of years,” Brinton said. “It feels good to still be playing and we’re going to make the best of it.”
The winner of Thursday’s contest will play either No. 1 Oak Park or Laguna Beach in the Division II championship Saturday at Cerritos College at a time to be determined. Burroughs defeated top-ranked Oak Park in five games in a nonleague contest on the road Feb. 18.