‘Balers improve league record to 7-2 with win over Alisal; Palma
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When it comes to coaching the San Benito High boys’ volleyball team, Hank Mao is a bit of a perfectionist.
On Wednesday, the Haybalers got their seventh league win of the season in three straight games over Alisal off of some dominating play both offensively and defensively. But Mao isn’t completely satisfied.
“I still feel like we’re not totally focused, not applying ourselves all the way,” said Mao, whose team won 25-19, 25-13 and 25-21 on Wednesday. “For a certain amount of time today, they just weren’t focused.”
Alisal (0-11 TCAL) managed to stay with Hollister for most of the opening game. But, with the score at 11-9 in the Haybalers’ favor, the home team went on an 8-2 run, highlighted by a long rally at 15-11 that featured a great dig by Martin Chapa and then a powerful kill by Adam Salas.
The Trojans rallied back and got to within one at 20-19 but Jon Crepeau and the rest of the ‘Baler front line weren’t about to let the match’s opening game get away from them as they rattled off five unanswered points to close it out.
The second game of the contest was a one-sided affair from the opening point, which ended with a perfect set from Jeff Hawks that Crepeau rifled through the Alisal defense. The ‘Balers took less than 15 minutes to down the Trojans in game two.
While the second game featured some spectacular plays as the Haybalers went on to the lopsided win, the third saw some sloppy play from both teams.
Neither squad could get out front by more than a point or two thanks to mis-hits and errors and, with the score at 20-18 in favor of Hollister, it looked like the third game could have been heading past 25 points.
But the ‘Balers, sparked by a big effort from Hawks, took control and went on to take the game and the match. The final point of the evening featured a role reversal as Crepeau set Hawks up on the right side of the net for a cross-court kill.
The Haybalers are back in action tonight at home against Palma.
