While first-year San Benito High head girls volleyball coach
Chuck Schallhorn was observing practice last Thursday, one of his
three sophomores reacted quickly to a loose ball near the net to
preserve a rally.
”
That’s something I can’t teach,
”
said Schallhorn.
”
This is a team of athletes.
”
While first-year San Benito High head girls volleyball coach Chuck Schallhorn was observing practice last Thursday, one of his three sophomores reacted quickly to a loose ball near the net to preserve a rally.
“That’s something I can’t teach,” said Schallhorn. “This is a team of athletes.”
True. From one to 13, Schallorn’s Balers could be the most athletic bunch in school history. Whether it will be the best volleyball team in the history of the program or not, remains to be seen.
But thanks to a new CIF rule which won’t allow the smaller schools to move up out of their respective enrollment, this year’s 2003 Balers will have the advantage of not facing the likes of national powers Archbishop Mitty and St. Francis in the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs. Last year’s team achieved the school’s highest ever state and national rankings before losing in the CCS semis to Mitty. However, the 2001 Balers went the furthest, losing to Mitty in the CCS title game before finally being eliminated for good by the Monarchs in the NorCal semifinals.
But first, Schallhorn’s Spikers need to take care of business in the ten-match Tri-County Athletic League, which opens up at Live Oak on September 30.
“Live Oak has two awesome hitters. They just need to find a setter,” said Schallhorn. “Gilroy is going to be scrappy, yet solid, and Notre Dame has Melissa Pura.”
The Spirits, the defending CCS DIV champs, are always No. 1 on the Balers’ hit list and it’s no coincidence the final match of the regular season is at Notre Dame on Nov. 6. The Balers host the Spirits on Oct. 15.
The Balers, who have won five straight league titles, sharing three of them, are at a three-team jamboree at Gilroy along with Live Oak on Aug. 27 before their first non-league match at Scotts Valley on Sep. 2. The Balers are in Reno Sep. 5-6 to defend their Reno Invitational title, but the biggest weekend tourney won’t come until Oct. 18 when San Benito takes part in the prestigious Panther Challenge at Presentation High in San Jose.
While the Balers were stung hard by graduation, two Second Team All-T-CAL performers return. Senior Melissa Moore and junior Alyssa Fowles will man the important outside hitting duties vacated by Kim Dabo and Jacky Denton, four talented sneakers to fill.
“We can be just as good as last year’s team,” said Moore, who played club for Vision 17-Gold dur-
ing the summer. “The strength of this team is defense, both at the net and in the back row.”
“We have the potential,” added Fowles, who played with City Beach’s 17-Black club team. “We can win league, but we have to start from scratch.”
Schallhorn likes the club experience Fowles and Moore bring to the court.
“They’re the most experiened on the team,” said Schallhorn of Fowles and Moore. “And they pound the ball the hardest. Alyssa has really improved her hitting after playing club this past summer. Fowles is probably our best server, too. She has a great jump serve.”
The X-factor to the whole mix is six-feet middle blocker Mallorie Wilson. Wilson is attempting to re-enter the school after a year at King City High. The papers have all been signed by the powers that be and are on the desk of CCS Commisioner Nancy Lazenby Blaser. Schallhorn is ‘calmly’ waiting the word.
“It’s out of my hands,” he said of Wilson’s eligibility. “I learned a long time ago not to worry about things I can’t control.”
Middle blocker Leslie Schipper, a junior, joins Wilson in the starting rotation.
Schallhorn plans to implement a two-setter system with juniors Stephanie Mauro and Kathleen McCullough taking on the huge responsibility. One of the keys to the club’s success will depend on how quickly the setters adapt to the speed of varsity competition, as well as, communicate with new faces.
“They might be on the court at the same time or one of them will be out there,” said Schallhorn of his two setters. “They’re both smart players and are picking up things quickly. Of course, communication is the key to every sport.”
“I can get to the ball fast,” said Mauro. “There is a lot of talent on this team. It helps to have outside hitters like Melissa and Alyssa here.”
Junior Jaime Hall, another six-footer, will play right side and will be first off the bench for net play. Amy Baxter, a senior, will be the first defensive specialist into the match.
As stated previously, Schallhorn has plenty of athletic options to choose from to distribute playing time. Junior Michelle Sanchez will be available for DS duty, as will be junior Dani Andrewson.
Just as three sophomores were kept on last year’s Baler squad for grooming purposes, three sophs made Schallhorn’s varsity squad this year. Jamie Temperino, who Schallhorn claims “jumps out of the gym”, will be at middle blocker, as will Ashley Patton. Amanda Boyd is at outside hitter.
“I’m excited about this team,” said Schallhorn. “This team has the greatest attitude of any team I have ever been associated with. They just need to play together.”
Practice could make perfect for this Baler team. A team which could go a long way, thanks to tremendous athleticism and a new ruling from the governing body of the CIF.
