After suffering three straight losses to Homestead, Evergreen
Valley and Menlo, the San Benito High girls volleyball team bounced
back last weekend to grab third place at an invitational tournament
at Harbor High.
SANTA CRUZ
After suffering three straight losses to Homestead, Evergreen Valley and Menlo, the San Benito High girls volleyball team bounced back last weekend to grab third place at an invitational tournament at Harbor High.
The Lady Balers compiled a record of 4-1 when it won its pool by defeating Santa Cruz (25-22, 25-13), San Ramon (18-25, 26-24, 15-13) and Carmel (25-9, 25-23).
In the quarterfinals, San Benito defeated Soquel (25-19, 25-20) before falling in the semifinals to Aptos (25-17, 25-18).
Aptos, meanwhile, which defeated San Benito’s league rival Salinas in the quarterfinals, finished in second behind Palo Alto.
“I thought we played them pretty tough,” San Benito head coach Dean Askanas said.
“But it was good. We made some changes.”
Askanas moved libero Sam Klauer to the outside hitter in order to strengthen the service order, and also brought up freshman Raelynne Heredia to the varsity roster to help out with the setting duties on the back row, allowing starting setter Alisha Cornick to rest.
“She did very well. She really held up,” Askanas said of Heredia. “And Alisha did really well (on Saturday).”
Cornick did so well, in fact, she was named to the all-tournament team as a result.
“We’re making progress in the right direction,” Askanas said.
Regarding comments Askanas made last week, when he said confidence was key to the success of his pin hitters, the coach stood by those sentiments after this past weekend’s tournament at Harbor.
“Our pin hitters were hitting with a lot more confidence,” he said. “They really looked like they belonged out there.”
The Lady Balers (8-6) will open TCAL play Tuesday with Alisal at home. Match time is 6:30 p.m.
