Spartan girls’ volleyball eliminated from championships

La Cañada girls’ volleyball team lost on Saturday in the second round of the CIF State Division II Championships to Redlands East Valley in straight games for the second year in a row, 22-25, 12-25, 12-25.

Last week, the Spartans (26-8) lost a close match to Elsinore in the CIF Southern Section Division II-A finals.

“We started strong, serving well, passing well and siding out,” said La Cañada Head Coach Brock Turner of the loss to Redlands. “Then, in games 2 and 3, the passing and play wasn’t consistent and we stopped siding out, which gave them too many good swings at balls during their transition phase of the game.

“Then, their great hitter, Krista Vansant, took over the game, after a slow start in game one. But to the end we never gave up.”

Vansant had an astounding 18 kills in the three-game match. Her teammate Danielle Newcombe had 11.

Though the Spartans were eliminated, they finished as one of the top eight teams in the state in Division II.

“Overall, we had a great year,” Turner said, “mixing some great senior experience with the excitement of youth to have another run at a CIF championship. Even when times were tough, they gave whatever they had, never giving up; and for that, I’m so proud of these players.”

Senior MaryJo Scott led the Spartans in the match with 10 kills. Senior Courtney McCutchan had eight.

McCutchan, the reigning All-Area Girls’ Volleyball Player of the Year, finishes the season with 390 kills on 941 attempts. She’ll be attending Lehigh University in the fall.

Scott, who missed a good portion of the season due to injury, had 111 kills on the season.

Senior Tara Rallis, the libero, graduates with 405 digs and senior setter Hayley Woodford had 935 assists this year.