Team riding high hopes for a title
At the start of the season, the San Benito High volleyball team
was just hoping to win more games than it lost. But after coming
out of the gate at 4-2 in league play and taking league powerhouse,
Seaside, to five games in an early season tournament, the outlook
has for the Balers changed.
Team riding high hopes for a title
At the start of the season, the San Benito High volleyball team was just hoping to win more games than it lost. But after coming out of the gate at 4-2 in league play and taking league powerhouse, Seaside, to five games in an early season tournament, the outlook has for the Balers changed.
“We’re a young team, but now we’re hoping to win league and make it to CCS (Central Coast Section) playoffs,” third-year head coach Luis Espinoza. “We’ll need some help. But if we can pick up wins over Monterey and Gilroy, that will make our match against Seaside (April 15) a lot more interesting.”
On Tuesday night after press time, the Balers squared off with the second-place Toreadors at home before traveling to Gilroy on Thursday night to face the Mustangs, the team that was tied with the Balers for third place in the Tri County Athletic League.
Although the Balers are a young team, San Benito High has been able to get it done on the court this season by playing strong, relentless defense that has forced the opposition into changing its offensive schemes, which has paved the way for a number of timely Baler kills.
A year ago, the Balers posted a 16-12 record overall and wound up missing the playoffs by a single point after attempting to petition their way into the postseason.
This year, now that the CCS has upgraded the TCAL to an A-level league, the Balers have more potential points that they can earn throughout the season, allowing for an easier avenue into the postseason.
While understanding the mathematical ramifications for making the playoffs can be tricky, the Balers play on the court this season has been anything but. The Balers are winning by playing sound volleyball.
One player with a major role in the team’s early success in league is returning senior David Dela Cruz. The team’s defensive specialist or libero, Dela Cruz is second in the league in digs.
“He’s an all-around player who can really pick up the guys,” Espinoza said. “He knows exactly where everyone should be. He is just a real good all-around athlete.”
While Dela Cruz handles the defense, junior Erik Rodriguez is instrumental in driving home the big shots for points. This year the Balers’ top hitter leads the team in kills with 161 – already nearly doubling last season’s total of 90.
“He’s a great kid and he knows where the blockers are at – and he still gets the kills,” Espinoza said. “They try to stop him but somehow he finds a way to put the ball down on the floor. And he keeps getting better and better. I really have great expectations for him next year.”
The team’s starting opposite side hitter is junior Brian Hawks, who currently leads the Balers in blocks with 25 and is second on the team in kills with 75.
“He does a great job for us,” Espinoza said. “He is one more weapon in our offense. He’s a soft speaker but when he’s on the court he’s a real good athlete. He tries hard and is very coachable – and he never makes the same mistake twice.”
Up front, the Balers have a strong physical presence in 6-foot-4 middle blocker Jakob Rice and 6-foot-3 middle blocker Roy Powell. Both sophomores, Powell is first on the team in aces, second in blocks and third in kills.
“He’s a good server and has become a big presence in the middle for us,” Espinoza said. “At the last tournament, he did real well. He seems to be getting better and better all the time; by the time he’s a senior, he should be a great middle blocker.”
His teammate, Rice, is also getting attention from other coaches in the league.
“One compliment that I had from another coach was that he was a ‘big presence on the court,’ who knows where the ball is at. He’s pretty much a wall out there for us.”
While the team’s strength in the early going has been its defense, Espinoza’s biggest concern is team chemistry, especially with few upperclassmen on the team.
“We only have two seniors and the rest of the team is young,” he said. “Without much experience, it’s tough on the seniors who have been there and played before. It’s hard and frustrating for them to know that as a young team we are prone to making mistakes.”
In the demanding setter position is Erik Rodriguez’ twin brother Adrian, who has improved tremendously, according to his coach.
“He didn’t start last year. He’s improved 180 degrees from last year to this year,” Espinoza said. “He’s second in the league in assists (265). I credit much of it to the fact that he played club volleyball in the summer and fall.”
