Hollister kicks off second half of season strong with a
straight-sets victory over the Gilroy Mustangs on Tuesday night at
home
Hollister – The San Benito High girls’ volleyball team continued its tear through the 2005 schedule with a 25-13, 25-15, 25-7 straight-set victory over the Gilroy Mustangs Wednesday night at home, improving its overall record to 28-4 and its Tri-County Athletic League mark to a perfect 7-0.
“It’s the second half of the season and we have to assume that all of the other teams are improving,” said Haybaler head coach Dean Askanas after Wednesday’s victory. “Everyone’s getting better so we have to get better, that’s how we’re approaching it.”
The Haybalers had little trouble defeating the young and inexperienced Mustangs for their seventh league win of the season. In the first set of the match, Morgan O’Laughlin accounted for several quick points to start things off and then gave her team a 9-4 advantage with an ace that just barely made it over the net, falling to the court untouched by a Gilroy defender.
J.T. Temperino scored on the next play with a block, followed by a kill from Ali Sharp to make it 11-4.
The Mustangs took a timeout to talk things over but Hollister’s front line continued to cause Gilroy’s hitters problems once play resumed. With O’Laughlin, Sharp and Emily Kortsen protecting at the net, the Mustangs were forced to try and go around the big ‘Baler front line, resulting in several shots sailing out of bounds. When the Mustangs were able to get a shot through to Hollister’s back row, the Haybalers did a good job of digging to keep points alive and create shots of their own.
The second game of the match saw Gilroy put some pressure on the Haybalers by taking a 7-5 lead over the home team. But a couple of miscues by the Mustangs saw the score even up at 7-7 before Hollister’s Bri Romero put the ‘Balers up for good with back-to-back kills.
Hollister went on to take control of that second game and win it by a final score of 25-15.
The ‘Balers opened up a 10-3 lead to start the third and were able to get some of their younger players out onto the court.
Both Courtney Dunn and Danielle Scibuola played very well when they got into the game. The ‘Baler front line didn’t miss a beat with Dunn taking her turn blocking shots and Scibuola came up with more than a couple of nice digs as Hollister cruised to a 25-7 victory in the third and final game of the match.
“(Scibuola) played really well tonight,” Askanas said. “She did a great job on coverage and she also made some good passes. It was great to see. Our backup setter Justine (Hunter) came in and did a good job too even though she’s only a freshman. It was good to get her some experience.”
Hollister is back in action next Tuesday against North Salinas at home.
