The Haybalers volleyball team may be gaining a reputation as San
Benito’s Cardiac Kids.
The Haybalers volleyball team may be gaining a reputation as San Benito’s Cardiac Kids.
The Lady ‘Balers won yet another come-from-behind match on Wednesday at Santa Clara High School, defeating No. 3 Carlmont in five games (25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 12-25, 18-16) to advance to Saturday’s Central Coast Section championship.
It’s easy to fret over the way San Benito has been winning this year, with plenty of last-ditch heroics in the waning moments, but the fact that we’re still able to fret over their last-ditch heroics should speak volumes.
On Wednesday, San Benito’s 2-1 lead through three games quickly transformed into a 13-8 deficit in the deciding fifth game against the Scots in the Division I semifinals.
But sparked by play from Ali Sharp, Emily Kortsen and Bri Romero, San Benito mounted just another routine comeback, tying the game 13-13, and eventually stealing it from Carlmont’s grasp for an 18-16 triumph.
They did it against Gilroy on Sept. 18, when San Benito trailed 23-19 in the third game, only to see Romero rifle off six straight kills to steal a three-game sweep.
They did against Notre Dame on Oct. 30, when the Lady ‘Balers were behind 24-21 in the third game with both teams tied 1-1, only for Romero, Kortsen and Justine Hunter to lead a 28-26 comeback.
They even did it in game one of Wednesday’s win, as they fell behind 9-1 early to the Scots, only to take a 25-23 opening-game victory.
After Wednesday’s arm-pumping win against Carlmont, Romero said, “That’s just the ‘Balers, I guess.”
Kortsen had a whopping stat line, which included 32 kills, 30 digs and six blocks. Romero provided 15 kills and 12 digs, Justine Hunter had 54 assists and Samantha Klauer had 18 digs.
Ali Sharp had eight kills, seven blocks and five digs, leading coach Dean Askanas to say that “she really pulled it together in game five, and she kept coming up with key blocks.”
It may not be the preferred way of winning for Askanas, or San Benito’s heart-racing fans for that matter, but a win is a win is a win. And the way they won may actually help them Saturday when they play Homestead.
No. 1 Homestead beat Salinas in three games (25-18, 25-17, 25-16) in Wednesday’s early match at Santa Clara. Askanas said the top-seeded Mustangs made “mincemeat” out of the Cowboys.
“I was really impressed with the way Homestead played … They looked excellent,” Askanas said. Regarding the 9-1 lead Carlmont had in game one, the coach replied, “That’s too big of a deficit against that type of team.”
Unfortunately for San Benito’s opponents, the Lady ‘Balers never seem to back down, never seem to give up, never seem to think they are ever out of it.
The Lady ‘Balers have proven they can win early, they can win late, they can battle back and forth, and they can slam the door shut just minutes after a game begins.
And everyone knows San Benito can’t fall behind Homestead and expect to win like they did against Gilroy, like they did against Notre Dame, or like they did against Carlmont. Everyone knows San Benito can’t become complacent against the top-seeded Mustangs, because they earned the No. 1-seed for a reason.
But even if they did, even if they fell behind early, would you worry?
“That win was all them. I didn’t make many adjustments,” Askanas said Wednesday. “It was just them deciding in the end that they were going to do it.”
It takes 25 points to win a game in volleyball, and unfortunately for San Benito’s opponents, it takes all 25 points just to beat the Lady ‘Balers.
