After loss to Presentation, national ranking gone, but
volleyball team dominates locally
Do not get Larry Nabzeska wrong.The coach of the San Benito
Haybalers loved seeing his squad ranked among the nation’s top 50
women’s volleyball teams.
After loss to Presentation, national ranking gone, but volleyball team dominates locally
Do not get Larry Nabzeska wrong.The coach of the San Benito Haybalers loved seeing his squad ranked among the nation’s top 50 women’s volleyball teams.
After a recent loss to Presentation High School knocked the Haybalers out of the national rankings, however, Nabzeska thinks it was a blessing in disguise.
The lofty expectations that go with being considered a national power became too distracting.
“At first, it had a bad effect. We were trying too hard,” said Nabzeska following the Haybalers 15-2, 15-2, 15-3 drubbing of the Salinas Cowboys last week in Mattson Gymnasium. “We’re much better when we don’t pressure ourselves.”
With the victory, the Haybalers pushed its record in Tri County Athletic League play to 4-0 and 17-3 overall while the Cowboys fell to 0-4 in league and 6-6 overall.
Powered by outside hitter Kim Dabo’s 13 kills, the continued dominance of middle blocker Kaylie Kortsen and the steady sets of setter Jenni Denton, the Haybalers extended its unbeaten game streak to 12.
The Cowboys were added to the growing list of TCAL teams unable to salvage even a game in its losses to the indomitable Haybalers. The Live Oak Acorns, Gilroy Mustangs and North Salinas Vikings were taken out in three games and in similar fashion.
San Benito would jump out to an early lead, allow a couple of inconsequential points and then close out the game with another string of service points, power kills and booming blocks.
The pattern held against the meek Cowboys, who stood little chance of hanging on to the Brahma bull of the TCAL, as Dabo, Kortsen and outside hitter Jacky Denton took turns punishing the Salinas frontline.
In the first game, Dabo’s opening salvo was a wicked shot that whizzed untouched between the outstretched arms of two Salinas middle blockers and bounced at the feet of the backline defender.
She quickly followed that up with a searing line drive that landed at an unoccupied spot between the two rows of defenders.
Another precisely placed ball by Dabo pushed the Haybalers’ lead in the first game to 5-0 – and essentially put the game out of reach. The Haybalers tacked on two more points before Salinas could respond.
In game two, it was much of the same but this time Kortsen doled out the punishment. To their credit, the Cowboys’ play turned aggressive as they tried to force the Haybalers into making mistakes.
Cowboy Coach Gina Uccelli tried various schemes to confuse Kortsen and get the ball to her outside hitter, Jennifer Cronin. It seemed to work for a while as the Cowboys sprinted out to a 2-0 lead when Cronin collected one of her team-high six kills.
But a kill by Dabo, followed by two aces from Jacky Denton and some demoralizing blocks by Kortsen and Sarah Groman seemed to take steam out of Uccelli’s plan.
“In the past we would have played at their tempo,” said Nabzeska. “We’re doing a very good job at playing at our tempo and making other teams adjust.”
The Cowboys had a tough time adjusting to the Haybalers’ high-wire act in the final game. San Benito stomped to a 7-2 lead before ravaging the Cowboys for the game’s final points.
Jacky Denton made a successful return to the hardwood after a severely sprained ankle kept her on the bench for three games. Although not completely satisfied with the way she performed, Jacky still looked sharp and is only a few practices away from getting her timing back.
