Everyone contributes for Mustangs in three-game win over
‘Catz
By Marc David
Gilroy – Gilroy coach Sue Grogan was almost apologetic after Tuesday’s volleyball contest with Watsonville.
At times, the Mustangs looked a little bewildered during their 25-8, 25-23, 25-15. But Grogan had her reasons for all the mixing and matching she did with the GHS players.
“I wanted to give experience to girls at different positions,” Grogan said. “If someone gets hurt and we have to put another player in that position, she won’t get lost.”
Grogan also rested Kayla Meazell more than normal, to get her entire roster significant playing time during the match with the Wildcatz (1-9).
GHS (6-4) didn’t miss a beat in the first game, allowing Watsonville just one serving point. The second game went back and forth until it ended when Megan Leach had two of her four aces during a final four-point flurry. The third game also ended on an ace, from Rebecca Costanza.
“One service point (in the first game),” Grogan said. “That alone is phenomenal. The girls kept their focus well the entire game. The we mixed things up a lot and the girls weren’t use to some of what we were doing.”
And yet after struggling a bit in the second game, the Mustangs responded well in the third game.
“During practice, we work on keeping our momentum, staying in the game,” Costanza said. “They tested us in the second game. (Leach’s) aces got us excited. We played much better in the third game.”
To illustrate how the play was spread around, none of the girls had big stats but almost everyone did something well. Jennifer Smith and Brittany Balanesi combined for 20 assists. Vanessa Wilkins had 11 kills. Leach and Caitlin Chisholm each had eight digs.
“You don’t try and replace Kayla,” Costanza said. “We just used it to try and bring the level of our game up.”
Grogan was happy to be able to rest some of her key players after a grueling weekend at the St. Ignatius Tournament that was played at a different pace than Tuesday’s match.
“It was hard coming out of the tournament because it was so intense, fast-paced,” Grogan said. “We only had one practice since then. It’s a challenge going from a fast-paced game to a slower-paced game. I’m a firm believer that volleyball players will play to the level of their competition.”
In this case, the Mustangs were able to play one level up.
GHS is in action at 6:30 p.m. today when it hosts Sobrato.
JV NOTE: The Mustangs’ junior varsity evened its record at 2-2 with a 25-17, 26-24 win over the Junior Wildcatz. The Gilroy freshmen (0-3) lost to Watsonville, 25-23, 14-25, 15-9.
