San Benito downs Seaside in three games Tuesday, will put streak
on the line tonight at Monterey
HOLLISTER
For a brief moment Tuesday night, San Benito’s sweep streak was in jeopardy.
“Yeah, I could feel the pressure,” said senior outside hitter Erik Rodriguez.
The Haybalers have swept each and every one of their previous eight opponents in Tri-County Athletic League play, but following a comfortable 25-13 opening game victory Tuesday, the ‘Balers sat tied at scores of 20-all and later at 23-all with visiting Seaside in the second set.
“We just had to do what we had to do,” Rodriguez said.
Following a hitting error by San Benito that knotted the game at 23-23, Rodriguez delivered a perfectly placed tipped ball at the net and broke the tie to provide San Benito with a one-point edge. Later, a Spartan miscommunication on the following volley supplied the set-winner, as the ‘Balers took the second game and eventually the sweep (25-13, 25-23, 25-14) at Mattson Gym in Hollister.
“We switched rotations and we haven’t done that rotation since tournament play,” San Benito head coach Luis Espinoza said. “We were trying some different things and we were trying to pick it up.”
Senior right side Brian Hawks said the ‘Balers (9-0 TCAL, 18-7) were working on rotations for tonight’s match at Monterey, scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
“We felt a little bit of pressure,” Hawks said.
“We were practicing some things for Monterey, and we need to work on those.”
Aside from the difficult second set, which was perhaps only compounded due to the excessive heat in the gymnasium, the ‘Balers cruised in both the first and third sets, winning each by 11-plus points.
“When it’s hot like this, you expect their play to be a little sloppy,” Espinoza said. “But once again, we won in three and that’s what they were expecting to win this game in.”
Roy Powell delivered a team-high 10 kills, while Rodriguez added eight. Setter Adrian Rodriguez supplied 30 assists.
Seaside (3-6 TCAL, 5-12) started strong in the third set behind Trenton Srode, who scored a pair of kills and another point off a block in the early stages to supply the Spartans with a quick 4-1 lead. But following a block by Powell and a tip at the net from Adrian Rodriguez, which brought the ‘Balers to a 6-6 tie with Seaside, San Benito took over and outscored the Spartans 12-1 over the ensuing stretch, including a 9-0 run.
Javier Castaneda led San Benito with 10 digs, while teammates Luis Bradley and Danny Ruiz provided six piece. Powell chimed in with five blocks, and Jakob Rice and Hawks contributed six kills and five kills, respectively.
The ‘Balers will take its undefeated record into Monterey (6-3 TCAL, 12-9) tonight, where the Toreadors will return as well after three straight matches on the road.
Previously, San Benito defeated Monterey in Hollister in three games (27-25, 25-19, 25-17).
“But if we lose a game, we lose a game,” Erik Rodriguez said. “I don’t mind as long as we win all the matches.”
SS – 13 23 14
SB – 25 25 25
