‘Balers connect for 17 service aces, defeat visiting Alisal in
four games, 25-14, 25-18, 14-25, 25-16
Hollister
At one point during the third game Tuesday, San Benito boys volleyball coach Luis Espinoza made a simple request.
His team was holding a two-game lead on visiting Alisal, and he asked his ‘Baler squad not to hit it near the Trojans’ Dagoberto Jimenez – Alisal’s Mr. Everything who leads his squad in kills, digs, blocks and aces.
“The thing I am real proud of was that our defense has gotten a lot better, especially against this team,” Espinoza said. “[Jimenez] is phenomenal. The guy is awesome.
“We have a hard time against players like that. It’s kind of hard for us to play around them. But our defense has gotten a lot better.”
San Benito’s defense was good enough Tuesday night at Mattson Gym in Hollister, where the ‘Balers staved off visiting Alisal in four games (25-14, 25-18, 14-25, 25-16).
Three ‘Balers combined for 53 digs, with David De La Cruz leading the way with 22. Daniel Ruiz added 18 and Michael Gonzales supplied 13 for San Benito, which moves a game above .500 with the win and is now 6-5 in the Tri-County Athletic League.
Adrian Rodriguez had 35 assists and dispensed the ball rather evenly to Brian Hawks (nine kills), Luis Bradley (eight) and Ruiz (eight).
San Benito’s service also seemed to be a strong point, as Bradley and Ruiz supplied the Haybalers with five and four aces, respectively. Against Watsonville last week, San Benito had eight service aces, and more than doubled that output Tuesday with a 17-ace effort.
“Our service has gotten better coming into this week,” Espinoza said.
The ‘Balers even managed to ice games one and four on aces as well, as Rodriguez put the final point on the scoreboard in the first, while De La Cruz sealed the match with his service ace in the fourth.
After the Trojans took the third game and cut San Benito’s lead in half, they took an early lead in the fourth game as well. But San Benito scored five straight points, highlighted by a Daniel Ruiz kill where the ball balanced itself along the top of the net before dropping down into Trojan territory, and marched to the game-four victory 25-16.
San Benito currently sits in fourth place in the TCAL, and will need some help in order to reach the Central Coast Section playoffs. Only the top two teams receive automatic bids to the CCS tournament, and currently Seaside, Monterey and Gilroy sit in front of the Haybalers.
On Thursday, the ‘Balers will have their Homecoming when they host Palma at 6:30 p.m.
