Rebuilding season

After a load of graduations, the Hollister volleyball team is rebuilding and holding its own in the competitive play of the Pacific Coast Athletic League, Gabilan Division. 

The league is led by Carmel and Salinas, with the Balers just on the outside edge of a tight middle group of Pacific Grove, Monte Vista Christian and King City. The squad’s overall record is 8-18 and they are 4-8 in Gabilan play.

“We have a young roster and it’s a rebuilding season,” coach Lisa Becerra said. “We graduated seven seniors. The kids are learning the culture and standards we have built here. They are learning to compete.”

The Balers have three strong senior leaders in Claire Gho, Christina Cunningham and Hailee Hernandez. The 15-player roster features two freshmen and five sophomores.

“I think we’re a well-bonded team,” Gho said. “We work hard. We’ve struggled a bit with newcomers and young players but we keep fighting.”

Hollister will finish just short of a playoff slot, but coach Becerra has big-picture goals for her team and sees them learning and improving. The Balers have reached the Central Coast Section playoffs 10 of the last 11 years and are likely to be back in the post-season again soon.

“My goal was not necessarily playoffs,” Becerra said. “I wanted us to learn how to compete. I’m excited to finish strong and am really excited for next year.”

The season has nonetheless provided a share of highlights. Hollister swept Monterey, beat Wilcox and won both league matches against Stevenson and both versus Santa Catalina.

Cunningham is often at setter, but has contributed in other positions. Gho and Daniela Orsetti are solid at the outside hitter position. Freshman Diana Martinez Ruiz makes big contributions on the front line. 

Aubree Barragan and Carlie Rowen are among the Balers at the middle blocker position. Several girls have played libero, with it often being Corynne Phillips, and most recently it has been sophomore Katelyn Matteson.

Depth comes from Trixie Rizon, Reilly Haertel, Hailey Brown, Hernandez, Daisy Oropeza, Izabella Rodriguez and Aliyah Montalbo.

“Christina Cunningham is a helluva athlete,” Becerra said. “She has mostly been setter for us but at times we have needed her to play libero or other positions. She is our main senior leader. Claire Gho has done a good job bringing maturity to the court. Daniela Orsetti has learned how to compete. 

“Bella Rodriguez and Diana Martinez Ruiz have come in and had immediate impact, both as freshmen. Our pin hitters have been our strength but our middle is also good and all four middles can return next year.”

In the latter weeks of October, the Balers racked up wins in the Harbor Tournament and in five sets at Stevenson, with a 15-12 count in the decisive set. Hollister also swept Santa Catalina at home, winning 25-12, 27-25, 25-18.

“I felt good about the match,” said Becerra, after the win over Santa Catalina. “We executed well and showed court discipline, being in the right spots. I thought we did a good job getting out of serve receive. We sided out quickly. We served aggressively and played well at the net, blocking and terminating.”

Right off the bat, aggressive Hollister serving kept the Cougars out of system and unable to produce much offense in a one-sided opening set. The Balers were passing well and Cunningham was moving the ball around, setting up her pin hitters and middles for winners.

Cunningham served two aces in the first three points. Martinez Ruiz had two kills and two aces in the set, Barragan belted four kills and Rowen contributed three kills and an ace. Gho had two kills. A decisive first set win for Hollister.

“I felt we came out strong and we maintained the energy,” Orsetti said. “We were hitting to the seams. And our serves were one of our strongest points.”

Santa Catalina regrouped and the second set was dead-even. The Balers evaded two Santa Catalina set points in a late rally, featuring a kill and a service ace from Gho. 

Also in the late stretch was a Rowen kill after an amazing Matteson diving save. In the final run, Martinez Ruiz tooled the block for a point and Orsetti ripped a deep cross down to the floor.

In the third set, a mid-set five-point run gave Hollister an 18-13 lead. The Balers sided out well to stymie any Santa Catalina runs and Martinez Ruiz and Orsetti had kills to close things out victoriously.

“I think it was great,” Cunningham said. “We had a lot of good energy.”

Gho is a senior and will graduate, as will Cunningham. Orsetti will return and Martinez Ruiz is already one of the top offensive options and has three more years of eligibility remaining. As a freshman on varsity, she states her thankfulness to play at a high level and being on the squad with the more senior teammates.

The season concludes on Oct. 30 at Pacific Grove.