Gavilan concludes season with three-game win over Ohlone
Gilroy – Malie Ka’anapu could empathize with the Ohlone women’s volleyball team.
After all, that was Gavilan 14 months ago. But Ka’anapu wasn’t sympathetic enough to back off during the Rams finale Wednesday night.
The sophomore setter completed her Gavilan career with 33 assists and six service aces as the Rams closed out their second women’s volleyball campaign with a 30-7, 30-23, 30-10 rout of the winless Renegades in a Coast Conference contest at Bud Ottmar Memorial Gym.
“We’ve had our ups and downs, but our teamwork was good and we were so close,” Ka’anapu said. “Last year, we were all separate people. We just wanted to play. This year, we had some goals and got down to business.”
With the win, the Rams finished 7-15 overall, 2-8 in conference. The outcome was never in doubt, although Gavilan did let up in the second game.
In the first game, kills by Barbie Csore and Heather Harms, and a Ka’anapu ace put the Rams ahead 3-0. They never trailed until the second game, and then never by more than one point.
With Jessica Panoringan getting two aces, Ohlone jumped in front 3-0 in the third game. And then Ka’anapu served 13 straight points in a 14-point run that settled the issue.
Csore had nine kills, Heather Harms had eight kills, six digs and three aces, and Jenny Fowles had five kills and 10 digs for Gavilan.
“It was a complete turnaround,” Rams’ coach Stephanie Pascucci said. “Last year, we had players who never played. This year, everyone was experienced. It make a huge difference. The girls have a lot of heart. They went hard every game.”
Pascucci acknowledged that she will miss Ka’anapu.
“She was very consistent,” Pascucci said. “It’s huge when you have a setter with experience. And Jenny Fowles did a great job in the back row with over 300 digs for the season.”
Ka’anapu was wistful about playing her last game with Shanna Silveira. The two grew up in Gilroy and were on the GHS team for two years together before Ka’anapu moved to Seaside. Along with Harms, they were the first of Gavilan’s two-year players.
All three could take a measure of satisfaction in leaving a program on firm footing and with six more wins than in year one.
