San Benito set to play in 32-team tourney; girls likely to face
CCS stalwarts
Hollister – They’ll all be there. When San Benito girls’ volleyball team sets foot on the court this morning at Milpitas High, it will take its place alongside the other heavyweights in the Central Coast Section.
Joining the Lady ‘Balers in the Milpitas / Independence Spikefest I are the likes of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Menlo, Los Altos and Westmont. And that’s only in Bracket D of the prestigious 32-team tournament. Should San Benito advance out of that bracket, more powerhouse teams such as Archbisop Mitty, Los Gatos, St. Francis, Presentation and defending CCS Division I champion Carlmont could be lurking in the Gold Division.
To say the least, the competition will be tight. “That’s what makes it a great tournament,” head coach Dean Askanas said. “Right from our own bracket, right out of the kicker, it’s not easy. We’re going into the lion’s den.”
But even though their season is only one match old, the ‘Balers certainly aren’t shying away. “The better teams we play, the better we’re going to get,” middle blocker Ali Sharp said.
Not only will San Benito likely play some great teams in the matches that are best-of-three games, but they will also put a keen eye toward scouting some of the competition.
Asked if she was excited her team was playing in such an elite field, junior co-captain Bri Romero said “Most definitely. I’m pretty excited to see some of these teams play, hopefully play some of them. It’s a good way to see all the teams and (then) when it comes to CCS, we’ll know, more or less, what to expect.”
After returning all but two starters from the 2005 team that narrowly lost to Carlmont in the Division I final and breezing past Live Oak in their opener on Aug. 30, the ‘Balers are eager to make their mark at the Spikefest.
“That’s what’s exciting,” Sharp said, “knowing that we can match with most of them.”
First-round matches had yet to be announced at press time, but Askanas said Bracket D had so many quality teams that it was anyone’s guess where his team would be seeded.
“I heard this year Westmont is really good, so it’s a tough bracket,” Askanas said. “They could say we’re the No. 1 seed, the No. 3 seed. I wouldn’t be surprised with anything.”
