San Benito trains sights on CCS championship with loaded 2006
team
Hollister – The San Benito girls’ volleyball team is not shying away from high expectations.
Coming off a season in which they compiled a 36-6 record and advanced to the semifinals in the NorCal playoffs, the Lady ‘Balers have designs on making the 2006 campaign even better. And in their minds, there’s only one way to do that – by winning the Central Coast Section championship.
“The big prize is CCS,” San Benito head coach Dean Askanas said. “For me, I think about CCS and winning that banner.”
After advancing to the CCS championship match in each of the last two years, only to fall in five games both times, it’s easy to see why the ‘Balers are preoccupied with winning the section title. And then look at their roster and you’ll understand why they think they can be the ones celebrating in early November.
San Benito returns all but two starters from last year’s team, part of a stellar returning group that includes Emily Kortsen, the 2005 Tri-County Athletic League MVP. Setter Chelsea Fowles and outside hitter Bri Romero are also coming off All-League selections and Morgan O’Laughlin and Ali Sharp are back after starting last season.
Askanas raves about his team’s athleticism and wealth of playmakers.
Stacie Mead, a senior defensive specialist, said the ‘Balers certainly won’t be lacking in offense.
“We have strong, quick attacks in the front row and we have a lot of hard hitters,” she said. “I think that’s probably our strongest point, is hitting.”
O’Laughlin, an outside hitter, agreed: “Our front row, we all played together last year. We get along really well.”
The ‘Balers’ coach also noted the strides Sharp has made at middle blocker, saying improved play from the junior will continue to solidify the team. “I just think this team may have a little bit more offensive balance than last year with a little more production out of the middle,” Askanas said.
Because O’Laughlin is coming off shoulder surgery, senior Robyn Huertas may find playing time early at outside hitter.
With eight players having at least one year of varsity experience, the ‘Balers still have a freshman – Samantha Klauer – who is talented enough to crack the starting lineup.
“She’s going to be the head of the defense,” Askanas said of his Libero. “I gave her the green light to cut anyone off and take the ball.”
Fowles, the senior setter, figures to be in an enviable position once the matches get underway, but for the moment, she said the ‘Balers are still trying to figure out how to wade through such a deep roster.
“We have so much talent, I just want to say it’s kind of chaotic at this point,” Fowles said early last week, “and I want to say it’s not totally together.”
San Benito, which romped to a 12-0 record and a TCAL title in 2005, figures to have a much more challenging non-league schedule this season. Askanas replaced three of the tournaments the ‘Balers participated in last year with significantly tougher ones, beginning with Milpitas Spikefest I this weekend. After opening at Live Oak on Wednesday night, the team heads north to the prestigious early-season tournament on Sep. 2 that will include CCS powers Mitty, Los Gatos, Presentation and St. Francis. The ‘Balers are also slotted to play in tournaments at Menlo and Presentation later this season.
In addition, San Benito has a road match with Carlmont on Sep. 14, the team that downed the ‘Balers in a five-set affair for the 2005 CCS title, a contest Askanas called “heart-breaking.”
Salinas and Notre Dame look likely to again pose the stiffest challenges within the league for the ‘Balers. But Askanas and his players have their sights set even higher.
“I want to repeat as TCAL … but to win CCS for me is the main goal,” the San Benito coach said, “and I think it’s doable.”
Echoed O’Laughlin: “(The bar) is set really high. The past two years, we lost in the CCS finals, so we’re really looking to get that this year.”
As the saying goes, the ‘Balers hope the third time’s the charm.
