The gym wasn’t quite hot enough to melt rubber sneakers to the
floor Wednesday night, but the heat certainly rubbed off on the
play of the Gavilan women’s volleyball team.
Gilroy – The gym wasn’t quite hot enough to melt rubber sneakers to the floor Wednesday night, but the heat certainly rubbed off on the play of the Gavilan women’s volleyball team.
The Rams started off hot and got their first victory of the season (1-1) by dispatching Diablo Valley in three straight sets 30-25, 30-18, 30-27.
While the first two games were clearly controlled by Gavilan, the last frame was a dead heat.
Trading point for point until the score was 22-21 in favor of Diablo, Rams freshman Teresa Hodges slammed a ball to get the team back even. Fellow frosh Nicole Falcáo followed with a service ace and two more scores off poor returns to give Gavilan a 25-22 advantage.
Diablo showed plenty of poise in the final game though, cutting the lead to a point, 25-24, before Hodges again thundered down a ball from the right side of the net.
“It was fun,” said Hodges, who had 10 kills and 13 digs on the night. “The energy of the crowd was great.”
Both teams again traded points before the rally of the night took place. Falcáo, Rams freshman Megan Merritt and a host of players from both teams were sent diving to the floor to save balls from dropping, prolonging the point until Diablo ultimately escaped with a score to trail 27-26.
Gavilan came away with the victory shortly afterward as the team gave up one more point before taking the next three to seal the match.
“It was a great win to start the season at home,” first-year Rams coach Kevin Kramer said. “When you inherit kids that can play, it’s pretty easy to coach.”
Kramer gave credit to his assistant coaches Kevin Corral and Chris Spence for helping to build this season’s squad in a short amount of time.
Along with the fresh faces of Hodges, Falcáo and Merritt, Kramer and company were lucky to land an incredible talent in sophomore Jamie Temperino. Temperino, a Hollister native, played at Fresno State last year but transferred to Gavilan before the season.
“Not taking anything away from (teams) the last couple of years, but (with these players) it’s raised the level,” Kramer said.
Temperino certainly played at a level higher than every other girl on the floor, smashing balls from every angle for 12 kills, including one that smacked an opponent standing several feet from the net square in the face.
Temperino also had four service aces.
Gilroy product Barbie Csore was effective at the net, tallying 10 kills, while sophomore setter Janet Unciano kept things in order with 19 assists.
The Rams will next play in the West Hills Tournament in Coalinga on Saturday before taking on Chabot College in Hayward on Wednesday. The next home game will be against Merced at 6pm on Friday, Sept. 14.
