It may be a stretch for San Benito’s boys volleyball team to
match what the girls team did during the fall when it won the
Central Coast Section title.
Hollister – It may be a stretch for San Benito’s boys volleyball team to match what the girls team did during the fall when it won the Central Coast Section title.
But coach Luis Espinoza believes he has a young, talented group that is capable of improving on last year’s third-place finish in the Tri-County Athletic League.
“One thing I’m trying to build on is team chemistry,” Espinoza said. “Once we have that, we’ll be a good contending team.”
The Haybalers return only four players, highlighted by honorable mention all-league outside hitter Luis Rosales, but several players moving up from the junior varsity level create promise.
“We have a slew of talented guys coming up from JV,” Espinoza said.
Rosales is one of only two seniors on the squad, joined by Chris Flippo, who has moved from libero to outside hitter.
The biggest loss was Jon Crepeau, who was the team leader in kills and aces and was a two-time All-TCAL selection.
But Rosales, who was third in kills last year behind Crepeau and another departed senior Josh Brown, is expected to help fill that role along with Flippo.
A new addition to the team is 6-foot-8 senior Sterling Wilson, who also served as the starting center on the basketball team this past season. While he’s new to the sport, Espinoza is excited about his potential.
“He’s transitioning from basketball to volleyball, and I think by the second half of the season, he’ll be a force for us,” Espinoza said.
The ‘Balers will have a chance to test themselves today at the Aptos Spring Fling tournament, where they will face Central Coast Section power Bellarmine Prep in the opener and continue pool play with tough games against Homestead and host Aptos.
Bellarmine has won the CCS title in six of the past eight years, while Homestead was the top seed in the playoffs last year. Aptos was in the CCS finals as recently as 2004.
“We want to do better than we did last year,” Espinoza said of the tournament, where the ‘Balers lost three of their four matches a year ago. “I hope we can at least make it into the winner’s bracket.”
San Benito begins TCAL play Mar. 13, when it travels to face Gilroy. The ‘Balers first home game is Mar. 15 when they host Seaside at 6:30pm.
