San Benito earns 5-seed, will host No. 4 Homestead Thursday in
first CCS playoff match since 2001
HOLLISTER
The San Benito Haybalers haven’t qualified to the CIF-Central Coast Section Boys Volleyball Championships since 2001. Homestead High, meanwhile, has qualified every year since.
But while the Mustangs will likely win each argument from a historical perspective – Homestead has qualified to the postseason each year since the sport’s inception in 1997 – history normally gets tossed aside in the playoffs.
With home-court advantage, though, the Haybalers are hoping to make some history of its own.
“Hosting a playoff game will be to our advantage,” San Benito High head coach Luis Espinoza said.
After compiling a 23-7 record, San Benito earned the No. 5 seed and will host No. 4 Homestead (27-8) Thursday night at Mattson Gym in Hollister.
The match is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Although Homestead compiled more power points, leading to its higher seed, the ‘Balers are champions of the Tri-County Athletic League and were rewarded home court as a result.
With just four postseason appearances since 1997, Thursday’s home match marks just the second time San Benito has hosted a playoff match, and Espinoza is asking for a loud, ‘Baler-red gymnasium.
“I’m pretty happy we have the advantage of being at home. They’re hitting their peak. They got past Gilroy and rolled through Palma and Watsonville, so it’ll be exciting to see.”
Homestead, meanwhile, finished runner-up to top-seeded Los Gatos (41-3) in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, and even trumped San Benito in two games (25-13, 25-21) at the Charger Classic in late March.
But Espinoza has never felt his Haybalers were a two-set tournament team. San Benito, meanwhile, has won 10 of its 11 matches since losing to Homestead.
“They haven’t seen us since,” Espinoza said. “I think we’re gonna come out and surprise them a little bit.”
Under the tutelage of head coach Matt Hoffman, the Mustangs boast a strong defense due to its size at the middle blocker position, Espinoza said, not to mention strength on the outside and at the setter.
Of the 14 players listed on Homestead’s roster, though, 10 stand above 6-feet, while senior Doug Rathbun is listed at 6-foot-9.
“If we can just get around their rotation, we should be pretty good,” Espinoza said.
“I think we can play with these guys.”
If so, the ‘Balers will be celebrating its first ever CCS victory, with a possible date against either No. 1 Los Gatos, No. 8 Serra (20-13) or No. 9 Leland (17-18) in Saturday’s semifinal round.
“Here we are, the first time in eight years in the playoffs, hosting a game,” Espinoza said. “It can’t be any sweeter than that.”
Tickets: General Admission: $7. Senior Citizens: $4. Students w/ ID: $3.
