In a year that so far has seen its up and downs, the San Benito
girls volleyball took out all of its frustration in one game –
luckily it was against rival Gilroy.
In a year that so far has seen its up and downs, the San Benito girls volleyball took out all of its frustration in one game – luckily it was against rival Gilroy.
The Balers pummeled the Mustangs on Thursday, running away with a commanding three-set victory – and none of the sets were particularly close.
“We just went in with a positive mindset,” Katherine Breger said. “We didn’t know what to expect going into it. We were just going to smash because they are our rival and we weren’t going to let them win in our house.”
And they protected their “house,” winning in three sets by scores of 25-15, 25-12 and 26-16.
Breger led the match with 11 kills and teammate Raelynn Heredia ran around the court with 15 digs and 23 assists in an impressive showing.
Things didn’t necessarily start well for the Balers, who had trouble keeping the ball within the court’s boundaries in the first few moments of the first set – but neither could Gilroy. The two teams traded the first six points because of offensive miscues.
The Mustangs were the first team to settle down, but San Benito wasn’t far behind. Gilroy pulled away to 7-3 – and eventually 10-6 – lead before the Balers made their move.
Behind by four, the combination of Heredia and Breger took over. Heredia ran all over the San Benito side of the court, picking up digs and assists. The setter was also able to pick up four kills, thanks to lofted shots that just cleared the net and found open holes in the Gilroy defense.
“She means everything,” head coach Dean Askanas said. “She is the defensive and offensive leader. She leads us in digs and runs the whole offense. She is the spark plug of the team. She is the setter. She runs the show – that’s why she is one of the captains.”
But Heredia wasn’t alone in controlling Thursday’s match for the Balers. Ellie Burley contributed six kills and Breger was an offensive force all night benefiting from Heredia’s play.
“We go way back,” Heredia said. “We’ve been playing for awhile and we just kind of connect I guess.”
Once the offense got going, they connected all night by stopping Gilroy rallies and quickly turning momentum.
And Gilroy couldn’t find an answer for her or the Balers’ tall front of Megan Kelley, Burley and Erica Chapa, who all stepped in front of Gilroy kill attempts.
“We’ve been working on stuff with both the middle blockers – with Ellie (Burley) and Megan (Kelley) and playing back row – because they are both really good athletes,” Askanas said. “They can handle that defensive responsibility. (We are) also feeding more sets to them. We aren’t as strong on the outside as we are in the middle.”
He added, “Yeah, it was a good performance.”
Once San Benito found its rhythm, there was nothing Gilroy could do. The Mustangs were overwhelmed by the Balers ability to block or dig out shots, as the first set ended on a 19-5 Balers run.
The second set wasn’t much better for the Mustangs as the Balers jumped out to a 12-3 set lead. Again, it was Heredia in the middle for San Benito.
Gilroy climbed closer but could only bring the score to 16-9 before the Balers pulled away once again.
In the third and final set, Gilroy fought to a 5-5 score to begin the set, but San Benito slowly pulled away.
The win gives San Benito, now 8-13 overall and 1-2 in the Tri-County Athletic League, its first league win of the early season.
“We have to take advantage of our home,” Breger said. “It’s embarrassing if we lose in front of our fans. And we have to take full advantage of home court because when we are away they’ll have the advantage.”
And the final score was a statement for the Balers, Breger said.
“This is our house – get out of our house,” Breger said.
The Balers will try to build on the win against Notre Dame on Tuesday when they travel to Salinas.
This week’s San Benito Score:
