Ever since an April 4 defeat at the hands of neighboring rival
Live Oak, the Mustang spikers have been on a season-long
crusade
– which was continued in Friday night’s three-game sweep of
visiting Seaside.
GILROY – Ever since an April 4 defeat at the hands of neighboring rival Live Oak, the Mustang spikers have been on a season-long crusade – which was continued in Friday night’s three-game sweep of visiting Seaside.
Continued – because it was the Gilroy High volleyball team’s sixth straight T-CAL victory and 11th of its 12 league matches.
Not yet finished – because of Wednesday’s long-awaited rematch against the first-place, undefeated Acorns.
“We did all things needed to do,” said head coach Craig Martin, who knew his squad could not lose another league match for the rest of the season. “(Last time) we didn’t take care of business like we needed to take care of it. That’s been our thing since then, ‘let’s take care of business.'”
Gilroy was in control of the first match – cruising to a 15-3 game-four win and ahead early 8-3 in the decisive fifth rally game. But a late Live Oak rally stunned the Mustangs down the stretch and handed them their only league loss.
“We did handle them. We were up 8-3 and we kinda fell apart a little bit,” said Coach Martin, recalling the heartbreaking loss. “We’ve been working on the mental side. We know if we play our game, we’ll be fine. We’ve got to be able to dig – which has been a strength of ours. We need to be on the top of our game.”
Live Oak (21-9 overall) comes into Wednesday night on a 12-game league tear, while the Mustangs (19-8 overall) are hungry for redemption as well as a share of the inaugural T-CAL title on their ‘Senior Night’.
“That place should be rockin’,” said Martin, of the Gilroy High gymnasium that should be filled with fans from both sides by the 6 p.m. start-time. “It could be a little bit of a distraction, but we just have to stay focused and do what we’re capable of doing. Even when we were over there, our hometown fans came out in full force.”
Since it is the second meeting, the winner of Wednesday’s match will earn the automatic bid into the CCS Playoffs – leaving the loser to hope for an at-large bid in a very competitive field.
“We’ve talked about not holding back and just going out, being strong and being brave hitting ball, bringing it down and not being tentative, and just going after people,” Coach Martin said. “We’re right where we need to be. We’ve been preparing for this.”
The Acorns’ sky-high front-line of near seven-footers Drew Pearson and Chris Deem as well as big hitter Aaron McElroy wore on the Mustangs in the first game. But Coach Martin said he’s been addressing that ever since.
“There’s no doubt that they’re a great team. They’re big, tall and strong. They’ve been playing great volleyball,” Coach Martin said. “We can’t let this match – win or lose – take away from what these kids have done this season. They’re the ones who brought this program out from the brink of extinction.”
The hardworking Mustangs did not let the initial loss to Live Oak cloud their main objective of getting into the post-season and they haven’t let Wednesday’s rematch get in the way of six straight league victories.
“Our kids have done a really good job not letting that happen. We’ve worked hard on staying focused – one match at a time, and now that one match is here and it’s just another match,” Coach Martin said. “We knew if we win out, we go to CCS so no matter who the opponent is in our way we take it one at time.”
The Mustangs have been led all season by a balanced, steady attack of hitters Scott Martin, Jason Medenceles and John Bowe as well as setters Matt Largo and Tucker Baksa – a top defensive specialist along with Medenceles, Martin and freshman Josh Binowski. Up front, middle blockers Kyle Loving and Josh Gravell welcome the return of Nick Mason from injury.
“We’re coming in healthy. Everybody’s back,” Coach Martin said. “We still have Palma on Friday night so if we win out, we go to CCS. It’s in our hands. We need to beat them and then Palma on Friday.”
