Evan Taylor delivers the match-winning kill as the Tigers complete a three-set victory over the Bulldogs
In a matchup featuring two Rio Pacific Conference teams, the South Pasadena Tigers swept the Burbank Bulldogs, 25-19, 26-24, 25-15, to open the 2026 season. Evan Taylor delivered the match-winning kill to complete the victory. South Pasadena won the Rio Hondo League last season, finishing 23-10 overall and 9-1 in league play. The Tigers advanced to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs before being swept by Foothill.
Burbank finished last season with a 12-20 overall record and a 6-8 mark in Pacific League play. The Bulldogs entered the new season hoping to contend for a playoff berth. The opening set went back and forth early, with neither team immediately gaining control. Bella Ventura recorded the first kill of the match for South Pasadena. Burbank answered, and Hailey Kim added an ace for the Bulldogs during the early exchanges.
The Tigers eventually pulled ahead and captured the opening set, 25-19, after a Burbank serve went out of bounds. Both teams traded points to start the second set with neither side giving an inch throughout that frame.
The second set required extra points before Seraphia Payton delivered an ace to secure a 26-24 victory and give the Tigers a commanding 2-0 lead in the match. South Pasadena opened the third set with a 7-1 scoring run behind contributions from Ventura and Caitlin Watson. The Tigers continued to pull away before Taylor completed the sweep with a kill, giving South Pasadena a 25-15 victory.
“I want to give all the credit to Burbank,” South Pasadena head coach Chris Chappell’e said. “Coach Steph and Coach Sabrina have great athletes who are destined to do something special for this part of the valley. I liked how we started strong and continued to set the tone throughout the match.”
The victory marked Chappell’e’s debut as South Pasadena’s head coach. He added that although he changed schools, he still has love for the Sierra Canyon family and is enjoying his transition into South Pasadena’s culture.
“It was nerves,” Burbank coach Sabrina Sullivan said. “We had to find a way to settle down. We got too excited at the start, and that resulted in a lot of mistakes.” When asked about coaching against Chappell’e, Sullivan described him as “the best.” Sullivan and Chappell’e both coach at City Volleyball Club during the offseason.
South Pasadena improved to 1-0, while Burbank fell to 0-1. Burbank will return to action against Whittier Christian at 4 p.m. South Pasadena will play two matches at the Poly Tournament, beginning against an opponent to be determined before facing Ramona at 1 p.m.
