If the Gilroy boys volleyball team can
”
keep in the system,
”
the Mustangs could be league champs when the 2006 season is all
said and done.
Gilroy – If the Gilroy boys volleyball team can “keep in the system,” the Mustangs could be league champs when the 2006 season is all said and done.
“It just means don’t do anything crazy,” said Gilroy head coach Craig Martin.
So far, that hasn’t been a problem.
Gilroy team started last season like a marathon, taking a while to warm up en route to a 18-10 season. But this season, the Mustangs have started at a full-out sprint.
“It’s different this year,” Martin said. “This year we’re coming right out of the gates.”
Gilroy opened the season with a 3-2 record at the Westmont Campbell Classic this past weekend and a three-game sweep of Live Oak Monday in the Mustangs’ Tri-County Athletic League opener. In their first home game Wednesday, the Mustangs broke out the brooms a against Seaside as well, winning 25-10, 25-11, 26-24.
Against the Spartans, Gilroy’s kill total was evenly distributed across several players, which showed its depth at the net. Senior outside hitter Vinny DeLorenzo had six kills, outside hitters Ryan Chisolm and Travis Graham each had five kills, setter Gene Losongco had four and middle blockers Dominic Jackson and Jason Conrad each had three.
“That’s how it’s been every game since the tournament,” Martin said. “We’re doing a pretty good job of distributing the ball.”
That was an area the Mustangs were worried about filling this season after losing veteran setter Patrick Largo. As a senior, Largo spread around 651 assists and was runner-up in the TCAL MVP voting.
But Losongco, Largo’s replacement who saw limited time last year, used the offseason to prepare him for the job.
“(Largo) left a big spot,” said Losongco, who had 17 assists against Seaside. “I played club for the first time and I think being in club really helped.”
Said Martin, “We’re still concerned, as you should be when you lose a kid that was the second most valuable player in league. But Gene has done a great job to this point in the season.”
Losongco wasn’t the only player who took the opportunity to play club. DeLorenzo, Graham and sophomore back row specialist Mike Leininger all played in the offseason with the Monterey Volleyball Club.
Size will once again be a big strength, especially with the addition of 6-foot-9 sophomore Conrad, the starting center on the Gilroy basketball team who is playing volleyball for the first time. Jackson and Chisolm are both over 6-foot-5 also.
“This is the tallest team I’ve ever seen,” said DeLorenzo, adding that the team’s height complements its other strength, hitting.
“Whoever’s on the court, I know they can hit,” Losongco said.
Especially DeLorenzo. As a junior he had a team-leading 304 kills, averaging 4.4 kills per set.
The Mustangs, which finished second in the TCAL supplemental league last season, are in very good position to win it all this year. Martin anticipates perenially-tough Monterey and Palma to be his team’s two toughest league opponents. The Mustangs get their first look at the Chieftains tomorrow in Salinas.
“We’ll know where we stand tomorrow,” Martin said. “Everyone keeps comparing us to Palma.”
Gilroy Boys Volleyball Outlook
2005 Result: 18-10 overall, 11-3 in TCAL (Second place). No Playoffs.
Key Losses: Patrick Largo, S; Steven Goode, OH
Key Returnees: Vinny DeLorenzo, Sr. OH; Ryan Chisolm, Sr. OH; Dominic Jackson, Sr. MH; Gene Losongco, Sr. S, Travis Graham, Sr.
Gilroy Boys Volleyball Roster
No. Player Pos. Yr.
1 Mike Leininger DS So.
4 Gene Losongco S/OP Sr.
7 Meer Fakhry OH Jr.
9 Jason Conrad MB So.
12 Alan Hoshida S Jr.
14 Derek Jensen OH So.
15 Travis Graham OH Sr.
16 Kevin Bruce OH So.
22 Ryan Chisolm OH Sr.
24 Dominic Jackson MB Sr.
33 Vinny DeLorenzo OH Sr.
