Burroughs wins big over CV in four sets

Gavin Etterbeek wins it for the Bears with a game winning block

A celebratory scene in a gym where a group of volleyball players and supporters are cheering and embracing each other after a match, all wearing red shirts. The volleyball net and court markings are visible in the background.

A volleyball match in a gymnasium with teams lined up for introductions. The court is marked with red lines and a net is set up in the center. Team members are in red and black uniforms, and spectators are seated along the sides.

The John Burroughs Bears defeated the Crescenta Valley Falcons 3 sets to 1 (25-16, 25-19, 22-25, 25-23) on Thursday evening. Gavin Etterbeek’s match-winning block kept the Bears in contention for their second consecutive Pacific League title, tied for first place with the Arcadia Apaches. Back on Tuesday, the Falcons came off a four-set win over Arcadia and Burroughs swept their cross town rivals the Burbank Bulldogs on senior family night.

A group of male high school basketball players huddle on the court, discussing strategy before a game. In the background, there are banners hanging on the walls recognizing league champions in various sports. The gymnasium has large windows and visible benches.

A volleyball team in red jerseys gathers for a huddle on the court, with seating and equipment visible in the background.

The Bears began the first set with a 2-0 lead as Marco Santiago Dorn and Etterbeek scored back-to-back kills. Evan Haytayan got the Falcons on the board by recording a block.

High school volleyball team in red jerseys celebrating on the court, with players lining up to shake hands. In the background, spectators and an American flag can be seen.

A group of male basketball players in white jerseys standing in a gymnasium with a scoreboard displaying 1:20 remaining in the period. They are lined up ready to start a game, with banners and championship statistics visible on the wall.

The Bears received consecutive kills by Sky Alston and Noah Duffield to put them up 4-1. Crescenta Valley closed the early gap with the Bears with contributions from Sena Hunter and Daniel Shon. Burroughs eventually took control of the opening set and came away with a 25-16 set win.

A volleyball game in a gymnasium featuring two teams; players wearing blue and red uniforms are positioned near the net, with spectators in the background and banners on the walls.

A volleyball game taking place in a gymnasium, featuring players in red and white uniforms, a referee on a high chair, and spectators in the background. The gym has wooden flooring and large windows allowing natural light in.

Burroughs started quickly in the second set with a 7-3 scoring run orchestrated by Santiago Dorn and Alston. An out of rotation error ended the run for the Bears, bringing the Falcons within three points. Burroughs, however, controlled set two with Santiago Dorn recording a block to give the Bears a 25-19 win in the second set.

High school volleyball match in a gymnasium with players in red uniforms on one side and a player in black on the other, as the ball is in the air above the net.

A sports gymnasium featuring a scoreboard showing a basketball game, with a countdown timer at 11:00. The walls are adorned with banners celebrating league champions in various sports. Several players are visible on the court, with some sitting on the sidelines.

Burroughs went on another run to start the third set, this time 6-2, engineered by Etterbeek and Duffield. The Falcons came back in the set with back-to-back points from Aubrey Peterson and Sena Hunter to tie the score at six. Both teams played down to the wire throughout the set with Crescenta Valley avoiding the sweep with a 25-22 win to force a fourth set.

A volleyball game in a gymnasium, featuring players in red and white uniforms. The action shows a player preparing to hit the ball while the referee watches. In the background, spectators and banners are visible.

A volleyball player in a black jersey prepares to serve the ball during a game, with teammates in red jerseys and spectators in the background, including a large American flag hanging on the wall.

The fourth set was another battle throughout. At one point the Bears faced an 18-13 deficit, but the Burroughs offense overcame the deficit on the scoreboard to tie the game at 22. Duffield recorded back-to-back kills to give the Bears a one-point lead and match point. Etterbeek scored a walk off block to give Burroughs a big victory over Crescenta Valley.

A high school volleyball game in progress, with players in red and black uniforms on the court. A player in black is setting the ball for a teammate, while other players are positioned around the court and spectators are seated in the background.

A high school volleyball game in progress, showcasing two teams in action. One player in a blue jersey jumps to spike the ball over the net, while opposing players in red attempt to block the shot. The gymnasium features seating for spectators and banners on the walls.

Burroughs improves to 21-7 overall and 7-1 in Pacific League play and Crescenta Valley falls to 21-7 overall and 6-3 in Pacific League play. Both teams will return to action next Wednesday April 22. Burroughs will host Arcadia in a winner-take-all match for the Pacific League title at 6:00 p.m. Crescenta Valley will look to finish the season on a high note when they host the Pasadena Bulldogs, also set to start at 6:00 p.m.