VB team completes perfect first half of TCAL season; tennis
shows improvement despite ND loss
“Who’s playing?” All the golfers on San Benito’s girls’ team want to know, and they all want in, fostering exactly the type of competitive environment ‘Balers coach Chris Branon is looking for.
With a solid top-three already fixtures in the lineup, the ‘Balers have three other slots open for the eight remaining golfers. And with three freshmen earning starts against Monte Vista Christian at Ridgemark Thursday, San Benito has now seen all 11 of its team members crack the lineup at some point in the season.
“It talks about the competitive nature the girls have with one another,” Branon said.
San Benito overwhelmed MVC, winning 212-249, but Branon was most excited about how freshmen Jennie Glosser, Katie Moeller and Alexis Sanchez stepped in and enjoyed strong performances on the course’s old back nine. “It’s not an easy course,” the coach said. “They all did very well, no doubt.” Moeller carded a 64, and Glosser and Sanchez both shot 65, completing an afternoon that figures to add even more intensity to the hunt for a playing spot.
“Once you get your feet into a match, you just want to do anything in your power to stay in,” Branon said. “If that doesn’t motivate anybody, I don’t know what will. It gives them a taste of what it feels like to have 1900 animals jumping around in your stomach. The first tee is the worst.”
San Benito junior Marissa Gutierrez shot a team-high 44, and Danielle Shelton and Ashley Bushaw finished at 51 and 53, respectively.
As has been the case in other blowout wins, Branon suggested that his players should have fared even better, but said that they may have had lapses in focus while facing one of the Tri-County Athletic League’s bottom-rung teams. “Across the board, we should be in the 40s,” he said. “It’s the golf course you’re tackling, not your opponent.”
Nevertheless, with San Benito hosting a five-team event at Ridgemark on Tuesday, Branon was thrilled that the upcoming practices will involve even more spirited battles to get back on the course.
“Who wants it? Who wants to go and compete?” Branon asked. “I want the competitive nature to be there. It’s there now. And it’s great.”
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
With half of the season in the books, the San Benito girls’ volleyball team appears well on its way to defending its Tri-County Athletic League championship. The ‘Balers improved to 6-0 in league matches with a convincing three-game win at Notre Dame Thursday.
“I’m very pleased,” said San Benito coach Dean Askana, whose team extended its TCAL winning streak to 18 matches over the past two seasons. “I hope we can keep it up, keep our intensity up.”
Behind a great night by setter Chelsea Fowles – “Chelsea was terrific again,” Askanas said – and solid showings from Emily Kortsen, Morgan O’Laughlin and Bri Romero, the ‘Balers (20-4) blew past the host Spirits.
“It was pretty one-sided,” Askanas said of the 25-10, 25-9, 25-15 win. “I was surprised. I thought (the Spirits) were going to have more. Our girls played well though.”
After San Benito’s emotional three-game win at Salinas on Tuesday, the Notre Dame match appeared to be a potential pothole, a possible upset should there have been any hangover. “That’s what I was worried about,” Askanas said, “that we’d be a little unfocused. … (But) they came in really focused and played great. We played great defense.”
After enjoying a well-deserved bye on Tuesday, the ‘Balers head to Gilroy next Thursday to open the second half of the league season.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Even though the San Benito girls’ tennis team suffered a serious blow to its hopes for a playoff bid with its loss at Notre Dame Thursday, the ‘Balers (6-8) could walk off the court knowing that they fared much better than they did the first time against the Spirits.
After being swept with straight-set defeats across the board on Sep. 12, San Benito fell 6-1 in the rematch, but gave Notre Dame a good run in two of the eventual lost matches.
“I’ve got to say I’m pretty proud of their performance,” ‘Balers head coach Ed Cecena said. “The girls improved. The scores were a lot closer.”
Elena Fata and Abby Woods broke through to defeat Notre Dame’s No. 2 doubles team, continuing their solid play with a 6-2, 6-3 win. “They’re probably the strongest part of our team right now,” Cecena said. “They seem to come through every match.”
No. 2 singles player Lizzy Gatto engaged her opponent in what Cecena termed “a real exciting match; the best match of the day.” Despite forcing a match point in the third set tiebreaker, Gatto eventually fell, 6-3, 1-6, 11-9. “She’s made huge strides,” said the San Benito coach, noting that Gatto is in only her second year of competitive tennis. “Playing at No. 2, she’s doing really well.”
The ‘Balers’ No. 3 doubles team of Athena Hernandez and Courtney Fisher gave Notre Dame a good run by forcing a tiebreaker in the first set, but lost 7-6, 6-1.
San Benito No.1 singles player Amanda Marshall had several extended rallies with her opponent in a 6-3, 6-1 loss.
After his team showed significant improvement against a tough opponent, Cecena said he believed his players would improve from their hard-fought loss. “Maybe next time the match will go our way,” he said, “instead of not going our way.”
With only one Tri-County Athletic League team able to garner a CCS bid, the ‘Balers’ back-to-back losses to Salinas and Notre Dame mean San Benito (4-3 TCAL) now has a very slim shot at playing in the postseason.
The ‘Balers return to the court next Thursday with a visit to Gilroy.
