n BY Jimmy Durkin
SPORTS EDITOR
Hollister – San Benito High volleyball coach Dean Askanas is sure hoping his team’s loss to Salinas at the end of the season will turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
While it resulted in the ‘Balers finishing as co-champions in the Tri-County Athletic League instead of earning sole possession of the title, the shocking 3-1 defeat in the second-to-last match of the season did not cost San Benito the No. 1 seed and it earned a first-round by in the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better draw,” said Askanas, whose team will play Saturday at 11am at North Salinas against the winner’s of Wednesday’s match between Andrew Hill and Gilroy. “I thought we were going to be the No. 2 seed.”
The ‘Balers edged out Carlmont in power points to take the top seed. San Benito beat the Scots in five games in their early season meeting.
Askanas said his team’s play has wavered a bit in the past few weeks and maybe the Oct. 26 loss to the Cowboys will have a positive effect.
“I think the last couple of weeks we’ve been playing inconsistent,” he said. “Maybe (the loss) will snap us up and wake us up and make us realize that we’re beatable and need to come with our “A” game every time.”
Carlmont opens the playoffs by facing Milpitas on Saturday at 11am at Sacred Heart Cathedral and the Scots and ‘Balers will need to each win twice to set up a rematch in the CCS finals.
“We can’t overlook any of these guys,” Askanas said. “We’ve got to be ready to go. … Every team out there scares me.”
Anzar also earned an entry into the CCS playoffs, picking up the No. 4 seed in Division V.
The Hawks, who finished 18-6 this season, will take on No. 5 Castilleja (16-17) on Saturday at 3pm at North Salinas.
A win would likely mean a matchup with top seeded Sacred Heart Prep in the semifinals, which will take place Nov. 16 at Valley Christian High in San Jose.
