Coach concerned over lackluster outings against top teams
They’re the defending section champs. They’re undefeated in
league this season, have a player on the roster who is nationally
ranked and a slew of talent throughout the lineup. Yet with seven
non-league losses already this season the San Benito High girls’
volleyball team is only one loss away from last season’s totals
– and there’s still a month to go in the regular season.
Coach concerned over lackluster outings against top teams
They’re the defending section champs. They’re undefeated in league this season, have a player on the roster who is nationally ranked and a slew of talent throughout the lineup. Yet with seven non-league losses already this season the San Benito High girls’ volleyball team is only one loss away from last season’s totals – and there’s still a month to go in the regular season.
“We have all the components to win. We can hit, pass, serve and block but we’re having more bumps in the road than I was hoping for,” San Benito High coach Dean Askanas said. “We can do it all we just haven’t been playing with that unity and verbal communication that you need – especially against the tough team.”
On Monday night at home the Balers cruised to a 28-8, 25-11, 25-6 win over Everett Alvarez to move to 3-0 in league play and 14-7 overall. While the victory was nice it was expected. What concerns Askanas is his team’s play against the strong teams in league, such as Salinas and Notre Dame, as well as the teams that the Balers will eventually need to face and beat in the playoffs if they are to repeat as section champions.
“We beat Homestead, split with Carlmont and lost to Harbor High twice,” he said. “We’ve definitely struggled a bit against the tougher teams. If we are a good team, even if we lose, we need to consistently perform at a higher level. If we are the defending champions, we need to play like a champion against the tough teams. Until we do, it’s just all talk.”
The reason for Askanas’ frustration is that heading into the season, he believed the 2007 squad could even go further than last season’s championship team.
“I made the mistake of comparing this year’s team too much with last year’s team early on,” Askanas said. “This team needs to be judged on its own merits. I still think in plenty of aspects they are still better than last year.”
The reason for the confidence is seeing the potential in the talent-laden lineup that he gets to coach every day.
Opposite hitting senior Emily Kortsen, who has already racked up 233 kills and 23 service aces, was voted one of the top 100 players in the nation by Prep Volleyball magazine. Her teammate, Bri Romero, is right behind her with 151 kills and she leads the team in digs with 212.
“Bri is a great athlete,” Askanas said. “She is probably the best defensive player in the CCS, and a very good outside hitter. Ali Sharp is a terrific middle blocker for us. Samantha Klauer is a good libero player and Justine Hunter is a very good setter. We have everything that we need to win this year. We can go all the way. We just aren’t showing it yet.”
The one piece of the puzzle that the Balers can’t deny missing is the absence of last season’s all-league player Chelsea Fowles, who graduated in May and is now playing at Utah State.
A year ago the versatile player ended the season with nearly 1,000 assists, 232 kills, 291 digs, 112 aces, 46 blocks and 337 service points. And equally important she was a vocal leader on the court who helped unify the team.
“We knew she was a great player and that she’d be missed,” Askanas said. “She provided team leadership, and we could place her anywhere. But this year I still say we can be even better.”
One thing that Askanas may have overlooked, however, is the ability of opposing teams to get fired up to play the defending section champs.
“That’s one thing that I haven’t talked to my team about yet. Maybe I should,” he said. “They all know that we won CCS so I’m sure that people get up to play us. We just need to get up for them too, and that’s what we’re not doing.”
