At 12-3, the San Benito High girls volleyball team is off to its best start since the 2007 season. That year the Haybalers won the Tri-County League championship, advanced to the Central Coast Section Division I final and won their opening match in the CIF Northern California playoffs.
San Benito hasn’t made it back to the CCS championship match since, a drought it is looking to break this season. The Balers are showing signs of championship material after posting some impressive non-league victories. After playing well in the Milpitas Spikefest to open up the season, San Benito beat Los Altos in four games, San Lorenzo Valley in three, Homestead in five and lost to Aptos in four.
The result against Homestead was key in that the two teams could meet up in the playoffs since they are in the same division. After the loss to Aptos on Sept. 16, San Benito made the 1-hour, 25-minute ride up north to Daly City to play in the Westmoor Spikes of Throne Tournament.
The Balers knocked off Galileo, Jefferson, Westmoor and Terra Nova before sweeping Windsor in the Gold Division championship contest. All of the matches were best-of-three, and San Benito only had to go the distance against Terra Nova of Pacifica, a team from the Peninsula Athletic League.
San Benito prevailed 25-19, 22-25, 15-6. Kieley Hoskins had 30 assists and 10 digs to lead the way. The Balers had their defensive mojo working, as Noel Chavarria had a team-high 19 digs, Marisa Villegas 14 and Lexi Chavarria nine to go along with three service aces. Lauren Sabbatini had a team-best 10 kills.
