Despite a 10-game winning streak inside the Tri-County Athletic League and an overall record of 18-3, the San Benito boys volleyball team looked at its early-season 3-0 loss to Gilroy as the season’s glaring weakness.
Because of that, Thursday’s league showdown between the two squads was a must win for the Balers for two reason: First place inside the TCAL’s Valley Division and revenge.
Down two players against the Mustangs on Thursday, San Benito got its revenge, defeating the second-place Mustangs 3-1 in Hollister.
The match was much closer than the score, though. In four games, Gilroy never allowed San Benito to pull away, following the Balers streak for streak.
“It was a fun match to play in,” Gilroy head coach Craig Martin said. “We knew they were going to hold serve at their place and be tough — and they did. I give them all the credit in the world. They are down a couple of guys and they did a good job of getting the win they needed at their place.”
At first it looked like it would be easy for San Benito.
Behind senior David Hawks — who finished with 28 assists — San Benito jumped on Gilroy and started the first game with a 3-1 run.
In the beginning, Hawks controlled the middle of the floor for San Benito as Carlos Gutierrez dominated the net, blocking two early Gilroy shots. But San Benito quickly started to commit unforced errors, allowing Gilroy to storm to a 4-3 lead.
In the next 20 points, San Benito exploded, grabbing a 19-9 lead and full control of the game and match. Gilroy, though, quickly took fought back.
The Mustangs rallied for seven of the game’s next 10 points to pull within three of the Balers. Thanks to Acfalle, who played off the bench Thursday, San Benito closed out Gilroy in the first game 25-18.
“They are physically very tough — as in they can play different positions wherever I put them and adapt — they are also very mentally tough,” San Benito head coach Emily Tonascia said. “They can stumble but keep on going instead of stumbling and staying down. It has been a huge factor for us this season not just in this game but against Monterey.”
Against Gilroy it was the deciding factor.
“Their ability to keep fighting, physically and mentally really puts us at top and it’s the reason why we are No. 1 compared with other teams,” Tonascia said.
In the second game, Gilroy dominated.
Behind Greg Spellman, Lucas Garvell and Connor Escobar, Gilroy ran out to a 3-0 lead and an eventual 25-19 win.
It wasn’t easy, though, for the Mustangs. After the early lead, the Balers responded with five of the game’s next six points.
With a height advantage, San Benito continued to control the net. Gutierrez and Acfalle’s wingspan made it difficult for Gilroy to go on long, extended runs.
“I was able to see the block,” Acfalle said. “They were always in the lane or to the side, so I was able to use my arm span to my advantage.”
Regardless, Gilroy’s Spellman continued to give the Balers fits.
Spellman, who ended with a game-high 33 assists, continued to give Gilroy chances to return serves and start rallies against the Balers.
Behind Escobar’s 16 kills, Gilroy grabbed a 21-14 lead before putting away San Benito.
Gilroy continued that momentum into the third game, grabbing an early 3-1 lead. But once San Benito surpassed the Mustangs with four-straight points, Gilroy never led again.
Acfalle scored 10 of his game-high 22 kills in the third game, as the senior lifted San Benito to a commanding 25-20 win. San Benito scored five of the game’s final six points to clinch the victory.
“We could have done better and definitely executed better,” Escobar said. “We did pretty good, though. We made the effort. We dove for things but it could have been better. I think we just need to work better as a team. And work things out on defense. It was a good game.”
In the fourth game, Gilroy once again jumped to an early lead — leading 4-0 — but San Benito’s size was too big of an advantage.
The Balers used a 7-2 rally to pull ahead and win 25-19.
It was an important victory for the Balers’ playoff aspirations, Hawks said.
“The goal has always been to win league and this was the first step to make sure we got over that first loss,” Hawks said. “We still have a lot of work left … but it was a good win — and we were shorthanded tonight. It was a good win for us tonight. It just shows how hard we worked this year. Anyone can step up and fill the role and help us win. We are in the lead for league but it’s not over. We have to make sure we win league and fight hard in the CCS.”
Gutierrez recorded 14 kills and David Stanton added 12 kills in the San Benito victory.
The Mustangs, though, are still in control of their own playoff aspirations, Martin said.
“We’ve to regroup and try to get the next four wins. We hope that they learn,” Martin said of his team. “It was a great match on both sides, but we made a ton of mistakes. If we eliminate our mistakes — like we’ve been telling our kids all season long — we are going to win matches. You hand good team points you’re in trouble. And we handed them a bunch of points — they earned a bunch of points — but we handed them a bunch of points.”
San Benito (11-1, 18-3) travels to Salinas at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Mustangs (9-3, 16-12) host Palma at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
