Despite finishing without an automatic postseason bid in the
Tri-County Athletic League, the San Benito High boys’ volleyball
team nevertheless earned an at-large bid toward next week’s Central
Coast Section Boys’ Volleyball Division I Championships. At 19-9
overall and coming off a third-place finish in the TCAL Tournament,
the Balers received the No. 8 seed in the CCS playoffs, and will
host No. 9 Monta Vista (19-14) on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
SAN JOSE
Despite finishing without an automatic postseason bid in the Tri-County Athletic League, the San Benito High boys’ volleyball team nevertheless earned an at-large bid toward next week’s Central Coast Section Boys’ Volleyball Division I Championships.
At 19-9 overall and coming off a third-place finish in the TCAL Tournament, the Balers received the No. 8 seed in the CCS playoffs on Saturday, and will host No. 9 Monta Vista (19-14) on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
Interim head coach Sam Klauer is hoping her team plays similarly to how it played last Thursday against Monterey, which, although a four-set loss for the Baler boys, was an intense match that saw San Benito come out strong and ready to play.
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The matchup is just one of two first-round matches, with the winner advancing to Thursday’s quarterfinal round against top-seeded Bellarmine (32-7).
“It’s a good experience for the boys,” Klauer said. “Just making it here is an accomplishment in itself.”
In the other first-round matchup, No. 10 Lynbrook (20-4) will host No. 7 Homestead (19-15), with the winner moving on to play No. 2 Los Gatos (33-3).
In the remaining quarterfinal matchups on Thursday, No. 3 Mountain View (22-4) will host No. 6 Leland (23-13), and No. 5 Gilroy (19-6) will host No. 4 St. Francis (27-8).
The semifinal round won’t take place until Saturday, with the Division I championship slated for the following Tuesday, May 17, at Independence High School in San Jose.
As for the Haybalers, they finished in third place in the TCAL after compiling a 13-3 record.
Earning the No. 2 seed in the Valley Division of the TCAL, San Benito lost its opening-round match in the TCAL Tournament to Monterey, the top seed in the Coastal Division.
But needing a win in the TCALs third- and fourth-place consolation match in order to boost their CCS resume, the Balers bounced back on Friday with a three-game (25-17, 25-23, 25-15) sweep of Seaside.
Robert Henderson led San Benito with 10 kills and five blocks, Kevin Thome added seven kills and eight blocks, and David Hawks contributed 31 assists. Eric Adams led the team with 19 digs, while Isaiah Acfalle chimed in with eight kills and five blocks.
“Our intensity on Thursday, we used that motivation and momentum in Friday’s game,” Klauer said. “It was good to get that win. It was crucial for us to get up on those guys and get into the playoffs.”
Despite their at-large standing, the Balers compiled 70 points and a 2.5 average, and finished in the middle of the CCS point rankings.
“So it wasn’t as close as I thought it would be,” Klauer said.
As for Seaside, they did not qualify for CCS, while Monterey, which finished runner-up to league champion Gilroy on Friday, earned the No. 5 seed in the Division II bracket.
San Benito has not played Monta Vista this season, but the Cupertino school has had several matches against other TCAL opponents, and to usually positive results.
According to MaxPreps, the Matadors defeated Monterey, Seaside and Watsonville in two sets during the regular season.
