Will they or won’t they make CCS?
By the time this paper is dropped in your driveway the San
Benito High School boys volleyball team will know whether or not
they are going to the Central Coast Section playoffs for the first
time in six years.
Will they or won’t they make CCS?
By the time this paper is dropped in your driveway the San Benito High School boys volleyball team will know whether or not they are going to the Central Coast Section playoffs for the first time in six years.
Last night after press time the Balers squared off against undefeated league powerhouse Monterey at home in a game that would determine the Balers fate. A win against the Toreadors coupled with a little help from Seaside and Alisal, would guarantee the Balers a trip to the postseason.
While a win over Monterey would be difficult to say the least, the Balers headed into the pivotal game knowing that they were at home and it was senior night – the last chance for the team’s upperclassmen to shine in front of the home crowd.
They also went into the contest with an upbeat attitude just knowing that they were still alive in the playoff race. In past years, only first-place Monterey would be representing the Tri County Athletic League in this year’s playoffs.
That all changed this year thanks to a decision made by the CCS front office that promoted the TCAL from a “B” level league to an “A” level league and allowed the door to be opened for as many as three more teams from the league to make the playoffs.
On Tuesday night at home, the Balers took a major step forward in their quest to make the postseason by ousting last-place Salinas High 25-12, 25-13, 25-22. Although the win was expected, it made Thursday night’s game against Monterey a more meaningful one than it had been in recent years.
The lopsided win also allowed head coach Luis Espinoza to give all of his players valuable playing time before the showdown with Monterey.
Leading the way for the Balers in the win over the Cowboys was Sterling Wilson, who racked up 6 kills and 5 blocks in the win. Luis Rosales, the team’s season leader in assists with 254, had 5 kills in the winning effort while Adrian Rodriguez had an impressive 10 assists on the night.
Against Monterey, Espinoza knew he would need another strong game out of his star players.
“I tell them to go out there and play with heart,” he said. “That’s what I tell them. They can get off against the best guys if they play well. We pushed Mount Madonna in a tournament this season, and they are very good.”
What’s put the Balers on the threshold of making the playoffs this season has been the team’s stellar play in league down the stretch. Since April 12, the Balers have lost only one league game, a 3-2 battle against Alisal on the road that could have gone either way.
“I always knew that this team would peak at the end,” said Espinoza, after the win over Salinas on Tuesday. “We also expect to win on Thursday night (Monterey game) too. Whoever wants to win more is the one who wins.”
And with the playoffs on the line nobody needed the win more than the Balers Thursday night as Monterey had already qualified for the playoffs. As all coaches will say, once the playoffs start, anything can happen.
“We’re not afraid to go to CCS,” Espinoza said. “We played all of the top teams in tournaments, and we know what they play like. I think, if we get in, we’ll surprise a lot of teams.”
Let’s all hope they surprised the Toreadors last night…
