Gilroy
– In a matchup of two teams in search of an identity, the team
with the better athletes won.
Gilroy – In a matchup of two teams in search of an identity, the team with the better athletes won.
Palma, lacking a true setter and dominated by its basketball players, was able to outlast Gilroy 25-22, 25-19, 24-26, 25-23 in a Tri-County Athletic League match Tuesday at Bob Hagen Memorial Gym.
“We’ve got athletes, not volleyball players,” Palma coach Josh Gentile said. “They fight through it and do what they can. It was two very evenly matched teams.”
The Chieftains (6-10 overall, 4-9 TCAL) jumped ahead 4-0 in the first game and led 13-5, using their height advantage to control the net. But Gilroy worked its way back into the game, scrapping for digs. The Mustangs (9-22, 4-9) went ahead 16-15 on a Mike Leininger kill, but that was Gilroy’s only lead of the game.
Gilroy got out fast in the second game, leading by four on two occasions, before a seven-point Palma run made it 22-16. The game ended on a kill by all-state basketball player Orlando Johnson.
The Mustangs were a point from being swept in the third game, trailing 24-22 before rallying for the last four points. In the fourth game, Palma never trailed although the game was tied on five different occasions. Johnson’s kill closed out that game as well.
The 6-5 Johnson, who will attend Loyola Marymount on a basketball scholarship, is only the third tallest of the Chieftains. Clark Fox, a 6-7 junior, led Palma with eight blocks. Emilio Rossi, who Gentile said is the only pure volleyball player on the team, had eight kills.
The Mustangs have more volleyball players but most are young and still trying to build confidence.
“We’ve had our ups and downs,” GHS coach Sue Grogan said. “They have to have confidence in themselves that even though they are down they can come back. They (Chieftains) are still working things out as much as we are.”
Kevin Bruce had a solid all-around game for Gilroy with eight kills, five blocks and four aces among his 13 service points (in 14 attempts).
Alfred Medenceles moved to setter to replace Greg Calimpong, who injured a shoulder during pre-game practice, and had 28 assists. Thomas Costa and Leininger combined for 28 digs.
“Alfred did well at setter,” Grogan said. “We have one more game to go to see how we play.”
The Mustangs finish their season with a 6:30pm match Thursday at Salinas.
