Reversal of fortune

LA CRESCENTA — After sweeping through pool play unbeaten on Friday night, the Crescenta Valley High boys’ volleyball team seemed to have a boost of momentum on its side entering the championship playoff bracket of the 2010 Crescenta Valley Varsity Tournament on Saturday.

St. Francis, coming off three straight losses in pool play on Friday, likely didn’t generate the same high expectations going into its bid for the consolation championship.

But it was indeed the Golden Knights who came away with a trophy on Saturday, winning the Silver Division championship, while the Falcons lost their shot at the Gold Division title with an opening-round loss and never really recovered en route to finishing sixth.

“We just weren’t really focused [on Friday night],” St. Francis Coach Mark Frazee said. “Everything just kind of worked [Saturday]. ...All three of my middles really came on. It was nice because the middle was working and that really opened it up for the outside guys.”

St. Francis opened the day with a 25-16, 23-15, 15-10 win over Righetti before taking out La Cañada, 25-15, 25-18, in the semifinals.

The Golden Knights dropped the first game of the championship match to Montebello before regrouping to pull off a narrow 23-25, 25-13, 16-14 win.

Crescenta Valley lost a tough opening match to eventual finalist Village Christian, 25-23, 29-27, in its opener.

“That messed up the whole day,” Falcons Coach John Nelson said of the loss to the Crusaders, who were defeated by Burroughs, 25-16, 25-23, in the championship match. “It just kind of took the wind right out of us.”

The Falcons posted a 25-19, 25-20 win over Temple City in their next match to advance to the fifth-place match for a rematch with two-time defending tournament champion Quartz Hill, whom Crescenta Valley defeated in a thrilling three-game pool-play match on Friday.

The return match lacked the same drama, as Quartz Hill was able to claim a relatively easy 25-21, 25-13 win.

La Cañada finished third in the Silver Division with a 25-23, 25-17 victory over South Pasadena.