Playing in front of a raucous home crowd Tuesday night, Gilroy
High’s boys volleyball team got its first Central Coast Section
playoff victory of the season in four games (25-20, 20-25, 25-10,
25-22) over Monta Vista.
Now the Mustangs will be looking to extend their run with a
quarterfinal contest Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Homestead.
Playing in front of a raucous home crowd Tuesday night, Gilroy High’s boys volleyball team got its first Central Coast Section playoff victory of the season in four games (25-20, 20-25, 25-10, 25-22) over Monta Vista.
Now the Mustangs will be looking to extend their run with a quarterfinal contest Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Homestead.
“We had our ups and downs,” Gilroy coach Sue Grogan said. “There was definitely a loss of momentum in the second game … but they pulled it together.”
Gilroy’s Kevin Bruce and Thomas Costa had 13 and 10 kills, respectively, pushing the team over the top with the help of setter Greg Calimpong, who finished with 33 assists.
In addition to the Mustang faithful, Gilroy had help form an unlikely cast of supporters, made up of players from fellow Tri-County Athletic League teams such as Seaside and Monterey.
“I was happy to have them here for the support,” Bruce said. “It makes the stands louder.”
The crowd had reason to cheer, as a good portion of the Mustangs’ roster contributed to the victory.
Michael Leininger had 24 digs, Paolo Palao pitched in seven kills, Sean O’Neill recorded five kills and four digs, and Alfred Medenceles plucked seven digs. No two players had more of an impact than Bruce and Costa, however.
In addition to his 13 slams, Bruce had three aces, seven digs and seven blocks. Costa contributed two digs and two blocks on top of his work on the attack.
“I think everybody did good and it’ll carry over the next game, keep playing well,” Bruce said.
Monta Vista’s coach Lorie Gragnola said she was happy with the effort of her players, and pointed out that every experience is a new one for her team.
“We are a really young team and it’s only our (program’s) second season as a team overall,” she said. “This is just learning for us.”
After the victory, coach Grogan wouldn’t say her team has an advantage on No. 2 seed Homestead, which has had an extended layoff through a first round bye, but she did note there is something to be gained from having already won in the postseason.
“Hopefully, that will have them holding their heads high with one CCS win under their belts,” Grogan said.
