Gilroy High’s varsity boys volleyball team got off to a quick
start at the SLO Town Tourney this past weekend in San Luis Obispo,
winning its first two matches of pool play before going 1-2 against
two of the better squads competing.
Gilroy High’s varsity boys volleyball team got off to a quick start at the SLO Town Tourney this past weekend in San Luis Obispo, winning its first two matches of pool play before going 1-2 against two of the better squads competing.
The Mustangs finished with a top-eight finish, leaving coach Sue Grogan with a favorable assessment.
“I think we did fair – fair to good actually,” Grogan said.
Winning matches over Reedley (25-24, 25-22) and then Nordhoff (20-25, 25-23, 15-13), the Mustangs assured themselves the chance to move on to the Gold Division bracket despite losing to No. 3-seed Arroyo Grande (18-25, 25-24, 13-15) a match later.
With the tournament changing to a single-elimination format after pool play, the Mustangs advanced to the second round by topping Nipomo 25-13.
Thomas Costa and Kevin Bruce each had three kills in that game, wowing their coach.
“That alone to me says a lot,” Grogan said.
Gilroy found a familiar foe in its next match, taking on Arroyo Grande again.
This time, the Mustangs were limited to only one set due to the tournament’s setup. The result was a 25-16 defeat as Arroyo Grande went on to finish third.
“We had them on the run for a long time,” Grogan said. “We were in the lead for the better part of the first half of the game, and then something slipped and they got momentum.”
The coach added that she felt her players did an excellent job of adjusting on the fly to lineup changes, as well as competing on each point over the course of the weekend.
“I think it was a learning experience,” she said. “Some people got a chance to play that haven’t had a chance to play. I used a couple of new setters while we were there so that always changes the dynamic. The majority of the team rose to the occasion and there was a little bit of adversity on our side of the court, but we came together in the end.”
Before going to San Luis Obispo, Gilroy lost in four sets Thursday at home to Willow Glen (16-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-21) after beating Wilcox Tuesday in four games (22-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-17). Bruce had 20 kills and three blocks against Wilcox while Greg Calimpong had 32 assists.
Gilroy improved to 5-4 with the tournament, but only the first three games will count due to the number of sets played, leaving the Mustangs with an official 4-3 record. The results, however, may not be measured for weeks to come.
“If we can adapt with the style of play we encountered down there and we play like that in the [Tri-County Athletic League],” Grogan said, “then we should be able to hold our own this season.”
