Gilroy got San Benito’s attention Tuesday night, but the
‘Balers’ big guns were accurate when needed in a 25-12, 25-14,
25-21 win in the Tri-County Athletic League opener for both
teams.
Hollister – Gilroy got San Benito’s attention Tuesday night, but the ‘Balers’ big guns were accurate when needed in a 25-12, 25-14, 25-21 win in the Tri-County Athletic League opener for both teams.
Chelsea Fowles had 11 kills and two aces for San Benito, which has won nine matches in a row and is 13-2 overall. Emily Kortsen had nine kills, Morgan O’Laughlin had eight kills and Ali Sharp had four blocks.
“Our offense is getting more balanced,” coach Dean Askanas said. “Kortsen is our big killer and Fowles seems to be able to find her when the going gets rough. But we have two very effective outside hitters and Ali Sharp is a very good middle hitter.”
The ‘Balers dominated the first two games. With Fowles serving an ace and Kortsen getting two kills, San Benito scored the first seven points of the match. Gilroy (6-6) didn’t get closer than six points in the first game.
The second game was similar to the first in that San Benito used an early run to seize control, scoring seven unanswered points for a 9-1 lead. Again, the Mustangs could get no closer than six points.
Askanas did some experimenting in the third game, rotating new girls into different positions and sitting Kortsen. But Gilroy, trailing 14-8, rallied behind junior Caitlin Chisholm to move in front 17-16. That’s when Kortsen returned to the floor. The Mustangs got their biggest lead of the night at 19-17, before San Benito reeled off four points in a row and never trailed again.
“They’re very good,” said Chisholm, whose kill gave Gilroy its 17-16 lead in the third game, of the ‘Balers. “They’re well coached and very organized. They work together and run plays. It’s amazing if you can work like that.”
That’s what club volleyball during the summer will do, something few of the Mustangs’ players have experienced.
And yet, the balance that Askanas talked about is what will serve San Benito best during the course of the season. Because of the improvement of the players, the ‘Balers don’t always have to look to Kortsen, a 6-1 junior and 2005 TCAL Most Valuable Player.
“We’re getting better and better,” Askanas said. “We have good chemistry and the girls play well together. This was a little different tempo than we played against Carlmont (last week). It was a good test for us.”
JV, FROSH: The San Benito sub-varsity teams each posted wins over GHS. The junior varsity won 25-12, 25-4, and the freshmen were victorious 25-22, 25-18.
