After sweeping Acorns, Balers face tough Mitty
Aside from the playoff implications, the Central Coast Section
quarterfinal volleyball game between the San Benito Haybalers and
the Live Oak Acorns resembled every other between the two
rivals.
After sweeping Acorns, Balers face tough Mitty
Aside from the playoff implications, the Central Coast Section quarterfinal volleyball game between the San Benito Haybalers and the Live Oak Acorns resembled every other between the two rivals.
For the fourth time this year, the Haybalers swept the Acorns, this time by a score of 15-4, 15-6, 15-12 Saturday at North Salinas High School.
The win propelled the Haybalers to today’s semifinals against the Mitty Monarchs, who defeated the Haybalers in last season’s CCS title game.
The Monarchs are the No. 2-seed team in the tournament, but it’s the Haybalers who seem confident that things will go their way this year.
“This is the game we really want to win,” said Haybalers outside hitter Kim Dabo after connecting for nine kills and three assists in Saturday’s win. “I think a win is doable.”
The Haybalers’ confidence stems from a victory notched against the Monarchs earlier this season. Defeating the Monarchs in a midseason tournament is one thing, but going for a win against the defending champs in the CCS playoffs is another task entirely.
The Monarchs always seem to rise during this time of year. In its quarterfinal appearance, the Monarchs destroyed Aptos High School 15-0, 15-7, 15-8.
Tonight’s game is at Santa Clara HS and starts at 6 p.m.
As teams on a mission usually do, the Haybalers made quick work of the Acorns Saturday. The Acorns seemed to sleepwalk through the first two games before putting up a fight in the final stanza.
“We choked,” said Acorns coach Laura Coleman. “Well, maybe that’s too harsh. We certainly did not play our best game today. We picked the wrong day to have our worst-serving and worst-hitting game of the year.”
Coleman was right on both fronts. In the first game the Haybalers took advantage of the Acorns’ wispy hitting and viciously fired back everything the Acorns offered.
San Benito sprinted out to an early lead courtesy of the Haybalers’ solid play on their side of the net. Setter Jenni Denton was precise, putting her passes exactly where her hitters wanted them. Denton recorded a game-high 27 assists.
Not even Acorns outside hitter Kristina Conrad could stop the onslaught, although she tried desperately. Most of Conrad’s nine kills came on side outs.
Live Oak’s finest moment came in an entertaining third game. Maybe it was the thought of getting swept by San Benito – or the threatening looks from the bench – that got the Acorns going.
Whatever it was the Acorns looked like a team capable of putting a scare into the Haybalers. The Acorns stormed back from a 5-1 deficit to tie the game at five and eventually took a 7-5 lead.
Conrad, a senior, took control of the game when her sharp spike found hardwood for the short-lived two-point lead. In the third stanza the Acorns did a much better job of digging the ball and setting up Conrad, who seemed to disappear at times.
San Benito eventually built a 9-8 lead only to see the Acorns scratch back to tie it up.
“We can’t win games by digging well,” said Coleman afterwards. “Digs are meant to setup the kill.”
Haybalers middle blocker Melissa Moore’s left-handed dink gave her squad a 12-9 lead and San Benito never looked back. The Haybalers Jacky Denton recorded a game-high 10 kills and teammate Kaylie Kortsen finished with seven.
The Acorns finished the year with an overall record of 32-7 and a Tri County Athletic League record of 7-3, good enough for second place.
