In the Gilroy vs. San Benito volleyball match Friday, the
Haybalers would have liked to see a similar outcome to the one it
had the first time the two teams met this season.
In the Gilroy-San Benito volleyball match Friday, the Haybalers would have liked to see a similar outcome to the one it had the first time the two teams met this season.
The ‘Balers won in a match that went five games down to the wire. But Gilroy is not the same team it was a month ago, and it showed.
The Mustangs used their significant height advantage and newly-found chemistry to beat the ‘Balers 25-22, 25-14, 25-18. “(Gilroy) played well,” said San Benito coach Henke Mao. “We didn’t execute.”
Mao was frustrated that his team did not have more offensive success following the first game. “We changed our offense after the first game (and it wasn’t as effective),” Mao said.
Even go-to outside hitter Jonathan Crepeau, who had 24 kills in a recent game against Live Oak, couldn’t get going, as a result of some big-time blocking from Gilroy.
The ‘Balers never really got an offensive rhythm going. Crepeau finished with six kills. The ‘Balers put some pressure on Gilroy in Game 2. They got within 19-17 when middle blocker Anthony Parcell put the ball down for a kill. But a missed serve by Eduardo Gutierrez and block for kill by Gilroy middle hitter Dominic Jackson put the ‘Balers back down by four and they never recovered.
Gilroy coach Craig Martin said he assigned Jackson to keeping an eye on Crepeau, especially on back slide attacks. “I told Jackson, ‘Follow him,'” Martin said. “So when he would slide back, (Jackson) was there.” Jackson had a team-high eight blocks and added six kills.
San Benito’s offense also suffered because of poor passing. “Without the pass, there’s no way to execute,” Mao said. With the loss, the ‘Balers fall to 6-2 in TCAL and 9-6 overall.
