Burlingame comes roaring back in battle of PAL Bay volleyball frontrunners

Burlingame (4-0 PAL Bay, 7-4 overall) roared back from a Game 1 loss to go the distance for a 17-25, 25-22, 25-19, 17-25, 15-13 victory over M-A at San Mateo High School. The two teams entered the day tied for first place in the PAL Bay. The Panthers now take outright control of first place as the only team still unbeaten in league play.

“I thought we did a really good job of making sure that we’re talking,” Burlingame setter Jillian Kiniris said of Burlingame’s defensive chops. “We have a lot of new players playing new positions, so making sure they feel comfortable the whole time and just having that energy ... and still get along with the team.”

Kiniris had one of the most pivotal defensive plays of the match, though it was one of the most unconventional digs you’ll ever see.

With the match deadlocked 1 set apiece, and M-A (3-1, 10-6) leading 6-5 early in Game 3, the Bears went on the attack off the left side and buzzed a laser shot down the sideline. Kiniris was drawn in at the right back position and reacted to the ball coming straight toward her head by trying to duck and cover. As she did, the ball hit her shoulder and went straight into the air to keep the play alive.

“I was just scared,” Kiniris said. “I just just wanted to block myself at that point. And then I looked up and it was still in play. So, I was just really happy that I got it up.”

As the rally continued, M-A returned it yet again, with a crisp attack toward the same area, only to see Burlingame senior Sophia Geminder dig it up with a lunging dash across the sideline. The Panthers returned it again, and M-A faulted into the net on its third attacking run, tying the set 6-6.

Burlingame took the lead 7-6 and swung ahead again 8-7 on a kill through the middle with a tip shot by junior Ava Scatena. The point sparked an 8-0 run, and the Panthers never again trailed in the set.

“It came down to the defensive adjustments on their side,” Menlo-Atherton head coach Denny Falls said. “They kept us to probably one of our lowest offensive nights.”

M-A outside hitter Daniela Eline outlasted Burlingame’s defense to the tune of a match-high 21 kills, including 10 of them through the fourth and fifth sets to keep her team in it. Junior middle Kayla Greenbaum also anchored the Bears with 12 kills and four blocks, including three blocks in Game 4.

In Game 5, Burlingame started slow on the race to 15, with Eline scoring a kill followed by a block to put M-A ahead 2-0. Burlingame outside hitter Ella Duong fired back with one of her team-high 17 kills, and Geminder tapped one through the middle to tie it 2-2.

Scatena and Jordan Toomey stepped up to defend a a critical point tied 7-7. Scatena had a shot attempt put back by Greenbaum, but stayed with the play and was able to punch it into the air to keep the play alive. Toomey was right at her side to get a quick set up for Scatena to take another swing, and this time the Burlingame junior scored it to give her team a one-point advantage.

“I just knew that if anything happened, coverage is key,” Scatena said. “I feel like they’re a really big block, but it’s more important for us to be even better at coverage. So, just covering that and getting back super fast so I can still be available for attack was just really key.”

Burlingame never trailed again, and kept answering during the back-and-forth battle. The closing set would be tied at eight different junctures, and as late as 13-13 when M-A senior Sienna Morales tooled block through the middle. Burlingame fired back with a clutch kill off the left side by freshman Ilsa Carlson to force match point.

M-A misfired into the net to end it, giving Burlingame the comeback victory.

“Always energy,” Kiniris said of the comeback. “I think that’s been our main focus this whole start of the year is bringing up our energy. And even when we’re down, making sure that down on the court, or down on the bench, that we’re always trying to lift up each other, making sure that we’re all having fun.”

The Panthers overcame not only a Game 1 loss, but trailed 10-4 in Game 2. They responded with a 7-1 run to tie it at 11, and broke a 14-14 with back-to-back kills by Duong. The senior outside hitter also rallied the Panthers back from an early Game 3 deficit of 6-3.

“She’s great all around,” Burlingame head coach Hannah Korslund said. “She’s great on the passing game. I don’t think she got aced once. She’s great defensively for us. She knows she’s our go-to.”

It was the second meeting meeting in four days between the two teams, who paired in the semifinals of the silver bracket in the Chris Chandler Volleyball Invitational held Saturday at Menlo School. Burlingame swept in another spirited battle 25-13, 29-27.

Falls said two matches that close together had an impact on Tuesday’s showdown.

“It definitely does,” Falls said. “Just a tough matchup, however the tournament goes. I was just hoping we could play any team not in our league. I think the hard part is it gives away a lot of information. ... So, I think that’s what it came down to tonight is we limited their players, but then they limited our players more.”

M-A libero Kiela King served up a storm, scoring four aces, including three in a row in Game 3. Burlingame junior Zoey Hakes scored a team-high three aces. Carlson finished with 12 kills for Burlingame, and Morales had eight kills and four blocks for M-A.