Visiting Toreadors sweep ‘Balers in three games, end winning
streak at four
Hollister
A rough first game by the San Benito boys volleyball team supplied the edge to visiting Monterey Tuesday night, as the Toreadors managed to stave off the Haybalers and snap their four-match winning streak at Mattson Gym in Hollister.
After an easy game one victory, Monterey went the distance in games two and three with San Benito but scored the three-game sweep (25-17, 27-25, 25-23), nonetheless.
The ‘Balers are now 4-3 in the Tri-County Athletic League, 6-12 overall.
San Benito was winners of four straight league matches, and hadn’t lost a league game since March 13 against Seaside.
David De La Cruz had 22 digs and Adrian Rodriguez supplied 19 assists, but ‘Baler miscues in the first game allowed the Toreadors to jump out to an early lead in the match, and eventually take the three-game victory.
“That first game, they weren’t in it,” coach Luis Espinoza said of his squad. “It wasn’t until the second game that they got into it.
“I’ve got some talented kids that I know can beat Monterey, so it’s frustrating to see that inconsistency.”
Coming into the match, San Benito was tied with Gilroy for third place in the TCAL, while Monterey sat in second place behind Seaside.
“Monterey is a good team. I’ll give them that,” Espinoza added. “We just didn’t have our ‘A’ game.”
Erik Rodriguez had nine kills for San Benito, while Luis Bradley added five.
The ‘Balers held Monterey to just a two-point lead early in the first game before the Toreadors got kills from opposite Nick Moore and outside hitters Joseph Tilly and Andy Locklar to open up a 24-13 lead, and eventually take the opening game.
San Benito got behind early in the second game as well, trailing 6-1 at one point, before they began to hit their stride. Highlighted by a pair of back-to-back service aces from De La Cruz, as well as kills from both Erik and Adrian Rodriguez, San Benito wrestled the lead away from Monterey and grabbed a 10-7 edge.
The ‘Balers held game point at 24-22 but couldn’t put it away late, however, as Monterey stole the second game 27-25 on a kill from Chris Lang.
Despite trailing 2-0, San Benito played tough in the third game. With eight ties, the two teams were knotted up quite a bit, but the ‘Balers only managed to grab the lead once – at 5-4. Monterey had match point at 24-21, and after a few miscues of their own, managed to put it away on a kill by Michael Vicent.
Espinoza tried to move past the loss after the game, telling his team to focus on Thursday’s match at Gilroy, which faced Salinas Tuesday.
Thursday’s match is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
