Bri Romero felt it was essential for San Benito to come out
quickly Monday and make a statement against Notre Dame.
Hollister – Bri Romero felt it was essential for San Benito to come out quickly Monday and make a statement against Notre Dame.
In that sense, the Haybalers accomplished their mission. And yet, the Spirits weren’t about to go quietly into the night.
San Benito gained at least a share of the Tri-County Athletic League girls’ volleyball title by turning back Notre Dame 25-10, 25-21, 25-21. The ‘Balers finished at 11-1, a half game lead on 10-1 Salinas, and pushed their overall mark to 28-7. Now, San Benito awaits Saturday’s seeding meeting to find out where and when it opens the Central Coast Section playoffs.
“It was important for us to come out strong and to fight back (from last Thursday’s loss to Salinas),” Romero said. “We didn’t play well (in the loss) but you can’t dwell on that. It just made us want to come back harder.”
Coach Dean Askanas asked his girls to be aggressive, and Romero answered with 13 kills.
“Bri was awesome,” Askanas said.
But Romero was quick to deflect credit to Chelsea Fowles, who was giving her and Emily Kortsen (nine kills) the sets to make the authoritative kills. Fowles also had five kills and four aces.
Fowles served the first four points as San Benito set the pace early. The ‘Balers were so dominant in the first game that Notre Dame got two points in a row only once.
But the Spirits (15-15 overall, 7-4 TCAL) made the necessary adjustments to let San Benito know it wasn’t going to be easy after the first set.
“We focused our blocks around Emily Kortsen and played defense around the blocks,” Notre Dame coach Steve Greene said. “Our girls really stepped up and were in the right spots where their hitters hit.”
After spotting the ‘Balers a 3-0 lead in game 2, the Spirits reeled off six in a row. And then San Benito scored six straight points. The ‘Balers seized a 15-9 lead, but Notre Dame fought back for an 18-17 lead. San Benito’s last five points came on kills as it stepped up the attack.
Fowles served five straight points to start the third game, but the ‘Balers were unable to ever get more than a five-point lead. It was 21-all before San Benito closed out the match with a Fowles kill ending it.
While the Spirits were mainly in defensive mode in games 2 and 3, Cathy Fraide was strong in the middle with 10 kills and three blocks. Notre Dame had leads in both games but was done in by a combination of San Benito’s relentless attacks and some attack errors of their own.
“They’re a good team with good defensive players,” Askanas said. “They do a lot of good things and dig very well.”
