San Benito overcomes 2-1 deficit to defeat Seaside in five
games; ‘Balers improve to 6-1 in TCAL action
They pulled it out when they needed to. Trailing two games to one against a scrappy Seaside team, the Haybalers rallied to win in five games last night.
But even with senior stalwart Jon Crepeau hampered by an ankle injury, the San Benito boys volleyball team thought it should have made quicker work of the Spartans than it did in its 25-12, 22-25, 20-25, 25-17, 15-13 victory.
“It wasn’t until the fifth game that we decided to play really hard,” said San Benito senior Anthony Parcell, “and I think we took a step back by doing that.”
Crepeau, whom ‘Balers head coach Luis Espinoza decided to play only after his team lost the second game, agreed: “We weren’t very organized. I think we took the game too lightly; too lackadaisical.”
San Benito (9-8, 6-1 TCAL) rolled to an easy victory in the first game after jumping out to a big lead, but fell victim to a string of service errors to lose the second.
Trailing by seven points late in the third game, the ‘Balers rallied to win four consecutive points – pulling within 24-20 – but Seaside’s Jimmy Dang sent the boisterous Spartans and their fans into a tizzy with a decisive kill down the left side.
Espinoza spoke of the frustration of helping to keep Seaside in the game.
“Every time we play someone we know we can beat, our level of play goes [down] to the level of our opponent,” said San Benito’s coach. “Even if our best player is out, we still have to beat these teams.”
San Benito setter Jacob Lomanto reigned in his team’s offense in the fourth game with the ‘Balers facing defeat, serving up several balls that middle blockers Josh Brown and Parcell put away with ease.
Parcell recorded a key block on Dang to give San Benito a 14-10 edge, and then Lomanto and Brown connected twice down the stretch to give the ‘Balers a comfortable lead at 20-14.
Despite the slow start to the night, Parcell said the ‘Balers continued their improvement by showing their resolve toward the end.
“We’re starting to play more as a team,” said Parcell, who recorded 10 kills and six blocks. “Every game, we get better knowing where everybody is going to be, trusting other players.”
In the decisive fifth game, Seaside (4-7, 2-5 TCAL) fed off its early-match success and showed it wouldn’t go quietly on this night. The Spartans played the taller and more talented ‘Balers point for point well into the game.
San Benito became the first team to take a two-point lead when a Seaside net violation gave the hosts an 8-6 advantage, but the determined Spartans came right back to win the next three points and take their last lead.
Brown turned a Lomanto set into a kill to tie the game at 9-9, and then Crepeau delivered a beautiful reverse set that Parcell hammered down the middle. A few points later, two kills by Crepeau put the Spartans away for good.
Having seen his team survive on an off night, Espinoza said the comeback indicated just how competitive the ‘Balers are.
“They hate to lose,” said Espinoza of his players. “It shows when they go down, that they muster every ounce of their strength to win a game. It’s how badly they want to win.”
Brown recorded a match-high 14 kills and tied Parcell with six blocks. Lomanto finished with 32 assists and Chris Flippo posted nine digs.
Dang led the Spartans with 13 kills and Thach Nyugen finished with nine kills, eight digs and three blocks.
Crepeau, San Benito’s star outside hitter, said the ‘Balers have a singular goal each time they take the floor.
“Just the idea of going to CCS, it makes us want to win,” said Crepeau, who finished with nine kills in three games. “That’s what drives us every time to win.”
With the ‘Balers’ 2001 team the only CCS qualifier in the program’s history, this San Benito squad is well on its way to adding a second year to the banner that hangs in the school’s main gymnasium. A loss to Palma stands as the ‘Balers’ only TCAL blemish and the team has already posted victories over Gilroy and Monterey, the league’s other one-loss teams. A light schedule until the last week of April will give Crepeau more time to heal and the ‘Balers more time to remain focus on their objective.
On that front, Parcell said, “CCS is very realistic.”
San Benito returns to action by visiting Salinas tomorrow. The match is set for 6:30pm.
Scott Campbell is the sports editor of the Hollister Free Lance. You can reach him at (831) 637-5566 (x334) or at [email protected].
