MONROVIA >> The South Pasadena High School girls volleyball team learned its lesson last week and the Tigers certainly were not going to let it happen two weeks in a row.
“This really meant a lot,” junior Molly Feldmeth said. “We had to come out with a lot of firepower. If not, then we would lose league and it would be really disappointing.”
South Pasadena got out to a 2-0 lead and then rallied in the third game to sweep host Monrovia in a Rio Hondo League first-place showdown Tuesday evening.
Last week, the Tigers lost in four games to San Marino, their first league loss.
“There was a lot at risk,” South Pasadena coach Shari Iwatani said. “It was very important. The girls knew being at their house it would be loud, be crazy and similar to San Marino. Monrovia is always scrappy and plays great defense.”
The Tigers reclaimed first place with the 25-19, 25-17, 25-18 victory. The teams were tied for first heading into the match. Both teams have two matches remaining; South Pasadena (8-3, 7-1) plays host to La Canada and Monrovia (17-9, 6-2) plays at San Marino on Thursday.
“It definitely put a little bit of reality into our season,” Feldmeth said of last week’s loss. “I think we were playing not so great. We were very confident and we kind of got surprised by San Marino.”
South Pasadena made the first two sets look easy. The third set was another matter. The Wildcats led by as many as four points. South Pasadena tied it at 17 and Monrovia took an 18-17 lead on a Vivian But block.
“I guess they’re just better than us,” Monrovia freshman Mackenzie Jensen said. “I definitely feel we played our hardest. I’m not really disappointed in our team.”
Isabel Bluml got a block to tie it at 18 and start a final 7-0 run.
“We realized we were not losing this and taking it in three,” Feldmeth said. “We were not taking another loss. We re-strategized and realized we need to go to Taleen (Mitchell) because they had three up on the right side.”
Mitchell finished with the match’s final two kills and 12 for the match. She also had three blocks.
The third game showed what the Wildcats can become; they only have one senior, Jasmine Robinson, who was honored in a postgame ceremony.
“We are just a little bit too young,” Monrovia coach Wayne Teng said. “We just need experience and to sharpen up a little bit. We’re very fortunate that our girls worked hard to get to this level.”
The Wildcats must hold off San Marino and then La Canada next week to claim second place in league. South Pasadena closes out the regular season next week against winless Blair.
Feldmeth had a match-high 18 kills and Bluml four blocks. Jensen had 10 kills and Riley Carius four blocks for the Wildcats.
