Rams defeat Panthers 30-16, 30-12, 30-18 as visiting Hartnell
struggles with 14 service errors
Gilroy – It would have been easy for Gavilan to have lost focus on several occasions Wednesday during its women’s volleyball match with Hartnell.
After all, the Rams’ only win last season came over the Panthers. But this is a new Gavilan team with only three players from that team, so most didn’t know about the past.
The Rams never let Hartnell make a run although the Panthers had a lot to do with that with 14 service errors as Gavilan breezed to a 30-16, 30-12, 30-18 win at Bud Ottmar Memorial Gym.
“I didn’t know that,” Jenny Fowles said when informed Hartnell was the only team the Rams beat last season. “It doesn’t really matter. I’ve always learned you stay focused until the scoreboard says 30 points.”
Of course, Fowles comes from a winning high school program at San Benito. She and the others are trying to be part of a winning program at Gavilan, which is in only its second season of volleyball. At 4-4, the Rams are showing promise.
“They came out fired up and played hard all the way through,” Gavilan coach Stephanie Pascucci said of her team. “A lot of times, you take a big lead and then you die down and let your opponent come back. We stayed on top and kept going hard.”
The first game was close before the Rams reeled off five straight points for an 18-10 lead. The Panthers (1-2) didn’t get closer than six points thereafter, hurting themselves with six service errors as several players were off with their jump serves.
Barbie Csore had four straight service winners as Gavilan broke on top in the second game, 7-2. The Rams continued to pull away and never allowed Hartnell to score more than two straight points in the game.
Tiffany Baldwin had an ace among her eight straight service winners as Gavilan broke a tie to go ahead 14-5 in the third game. That allowed Pascucci to get all her players into the game. Once again, the Panthers hurt themselves with five service errors as they were unable to mount a charge.
Heather Harms led the Rams with eight kills. Fowles had seven kills and four aces. Shanna Silveira had six digs and four aces.
“I was proud of the way we played,” Fowles said. “Even when we got a big lead, we didn’t let up which allowed other girls to get a chance to play. It’s all about playing until the game is over, and I felt we were able to do that.”
Pascucci agreed, adding, “The girls did a good job of holding that effort. Of course, (the Panthers) hurt themselves with so many service errors.”
