Edgar Melik-Stepanyan
TEMPLE CITY -- The box score may not indicate it, but some things
won't ever appear on a scoring sheet.
Even though the La Canada High girls' volleyball team's streak of four
straight Rio Hondo League titles came to an end with a 15-2, 15-8, 8-15,
15-4, loss to host Temple City on Thursday, Spartan Coach Kevin Boyke
couldn't have been more proud of his team's effort.
The last time these teams met, the Rams (15-0, 10-0 in league) walked
over the the Spartans (17-6, 8-2 in league) to hand them their first
league loss in 44 matches.
In Thursday's rematch, La Canada's roster was depleted with injuries
to starting captain Jennifer Geisbauer and starter Kasey Hurlbutt.
La Canada went down easily in the first game, but once Boyke's players
began to counter dynamic sophomore Jacqui Jackson at the net and with
their pure hustle, the Spartans actually led in the second game, 7-6.
Temple City Coach Lyle Takeshita retaliated by moving Jackson around
on the court. She proved to be too overpowering as the Rams -- ranked No.
9 in the CIF Southern Section Division IIIAA -- took a commanding 2-0
lead in games.
From that point, the Spartans could have relaxed and made excuses, but
they came out with a sense of urgency in the third game, providing Boyke
with a glimpse of what is to come. "I've coached a lot of really,
really good teams," Boyke said. "A lot of really good club teams, a lot
of really good high school teams with a lot of really good talent. But
I've never been more proud of a group of girls, ever, for what they went
through.
"This team gave no excuses. Even though they're all sophomores. Even
though they've lost their team captain to injury. Even though they lost
their starting right side to injury. And yet they came out here and gave
everything they could give."
JoAnn Bicknell led La Canada with 17 kills. Sophomore KiTing Kolar
(seven kills), Suzanne Swenson (seven blocks), Courtney Turner (five
blocks) and Camille Cunningham (35 assists) also played well.
Jackson had a match-high 22 kills as Temple City clinched its first
league title since 1996.
BOX SCORE
La Canada*2*8*15*4
Temple City*15*15*8*15
LA CANADA -- Bicknell 15 kills, Kolar 7 kills, Swenson 7 blocks,
Turner 5 blocks, Cunningham 27 assists.
TEMPLE CITY -- Ja. Jackson 22 kills, Je. Jackson 10 kills, Flores 38
assists.
