Junior blocker’s first serve clinches 3-game home sweep of
Hollister
GILROY – After dominating the middle for the Gilroy High boys volleyball team all night long Wednesday, junior blocker Kyle Loving did something his hasn’t done all season – he stepped to the service line with the Mustangs ahead 15-4 in game-three against Hollister.
“I had it saved up,” said the lengthy middle force, of his ace that sealed a 16-4 win in the third game as well as the clinched a three-game sweep of the visiting Haybalers. “I’m feeling I’m learning more and I’m progressing more.”
Loving loved every minute of it – especially since the forward on the varsity basketball team suffered two losses to Hollister during the winter season.
“It feels good,” Loving said. “It’s a little payback for basketball.”
Senior hitter Scott Martin (15 kills) gave his teammate a pat on the back after the clinching ace – knowing it was Loving’s first serve of the T-CAL season.
“That was nice,” said co-head coach Jay Baksa of Loving’s ace. “It was just barely over the net.”
The Mustangs (16-8 overall) bolstered their league record to 8-1 – the only blemish coming in a five-match thriller against neighboring rival Live Oak – and Loving set the tempo in the middle, finishing with five kills and two blocks for kills.
“He had a good game. His jumping was real nice. He’s the best jumper on the team,” said Baksa of Loving. “We say for him to slow down. He tries to go so high and so hard. We say if you hit it at 80 percent, it will still go down. He had a nice game today.”
Senior reserve hitter Mike Faria also got into the mix – getting a loud ovation from the hometown crowed when he entered late in the third game. After mistiming his initial spike attempt, Faria cleared the net on consecutive spikes and forced a Hollister error.
“It was critical,” said the always comical Faria. “I missed a week because I had my wisdom teeth out, but I came back and I wanted to come out hitting and give it up for my peeps.”
Senior Jason Medenceles brought down the pain on 11 occasions and senior teammate Tucker Baksa put forth an all-around effort with five kills, 22 assists and five floor-stopping digs.
“We had a little lull in the second game, but that’s OK because in the third game we made it happen,” said co-head coach Craig Martin, whose squad cruised to a 15-6, 15-10, 16-4 home win. “We were not passing that good in the second game. Once we took care of that, we settled down in the third game and took care of business.”
Senior hitter John Bowe registered four kills and senior middle Josh Gravell tallied three blocks for kills, while senior setter Matt Largo finished with 14 set-ups.
“We basically played good volleyball tonight,” Coach Baksa said. “It was a good team effort. Live Oak and us, we’re taking it one game at a time until we get at each other again.”
Gilroy – which defeated Salinas in three games on Friday night with Medenceles and Martin tied for a team-high nine kills – will first hit the road against Alisal on April 25 and then host Seaside on May 2 before seeking vengeance against Live Oak at home on May 7.
