While teams usually seek improvement as a season progresses,
getting better and faster and stronger as they inch toward the
playoffs, the San Benito Lady ‘Balers tonight will look to channel
their play from two months ago.
While teams usually seek improvement as a season progresses, getting better and faster and stronger as they inch toward the playoffs, the San Benito Lady ‘Balers tonight will look to channel their play from two months ago.
They’re not looking to take a step back, of course, they’re just looking to beat Carlmont.
At the Milpitas Spikefest on Sept. 1, the first volleyball tournament of the season for San Benito, the Lady ‘Balers defeated the Scots 2-0 (25-15, 25-18).
Just 10 days later, however, at a home match in Hollister on Sept. 11, San Benito lost to Carlmont 3-1 (25-22, 17-25, 25-22, 25-22).
Whatever it is they did at the Spikefest, though, San Benito will look to bring tonight against Carlmont in the semifinals of the Central Coast Section Volleyball Championships.
“We’re as ready as we’re going to be,” coach Dean Askanas said. “I don’t think it matters if we play Homestead or Salinas or Carlmont, they’re all tough.”
With a win, San Benito (26-10) will propel themselves into Saturday’s CCS Division I championship, a familiar environment considering the Lady ‘Balers were there just last year.
They’re the defending CCS champions, and a win against Carlmont will place them in the title match for a second time against either Salinas or Homestead.
Carlmont will look to make sure that won’t happen, though. The Scots (22-11) beat San Benito’s league rival North Salinas last Saturday in three games rather convincingly. Playing at North Salinas’ home gymnasium, Carlmont defeated the Vikings 25-12, 25-15, 25-12.
Askanas was unable to witness Carlmont’s seemingly dominant performance on Saturday, as his Lady ‘Balers were busy thumping Mt. Pleasant in their opening-round match in three games (25-10, 25-16, 25-15).
“I don’t think there are too many secrets between either team,” Askanas said. “It’s whoever comes out and plays their best.”
There’s no secret as to who Carlmont’s two main offensive threats are, as Askanas said senior outside hitter Justine Record and senior middle blocker Colleen Garrett will see plenty of looks.
Askanas called Record “a monster outside hitter who’s probably the best server in the CCS.”
“Those are their two key players … That is most of their offense. That’s where a lot of their balls go to,” the coach noted. “We’ve been having some crisp practices and doing some situational stuff.”
In their previous game against Mt. Pleasant, San Benito sought to shut down Puneet Pataria, the Cardinals 6-foot-2 middle blocker, and they did just that.
Although Pataria finished with 12 kills and eight digs on the night, she was contained in the first game rather well with strong defense in the back and strong blocking at the net.
And San Benito will seek a similar plan to defend against Record and Garrett.
Askanas said in San Benito’s loss earlier in the year to Carlmont, his blockers were at the net, defending the back row of attackers.
Since then, the Hollister coach has installed a new rotation.
“We’re running a different rotation from the previous time, and so far, this rotation has been a little more effective,” Askanas said.
San Benito and Carlmont will square off tonight at 7:30 p.m., at Santa Clara High School.
“It’s the biggest game of the season so far,” Askanas said. “It’s win or go home.”
