Gilroy picks up first TCAL win against North Salinas; takes
fifth at ‘Classic’
Gilroy – Over the past few days, the Gilroy High volleyball team has gotten a little redemption.
At Saturday’s Mustang Classic tournament it its own gym, Gilroy avenged an earlier season loss to Anzar en route to taking fifth place. And on Tuesday, the ‘Stangs picked up their first TCAL win against North Salinas in a 20-25, 28-25, 25-11, 25-14 match.
“They’ve been more aggressive and had smarter play,” said Gilroy head coach Sue Grogan. “They’re reading the other team quicker and adjusting to the play.”
In pool play at the Mustang Classic, Gilroy opened with a loss to San Luis Obispo-based Arroyo Grande, the eventual champion, but then beat Anzar and Scotts Valley. The Mustangs were seeded fifth in the gold division for the playoffs and lost to Mt. Pleasant in the first round.
The highlight was beating Anzar in two straight in the three-game match format.
“It was a whole lot better play than the last time we played them,” Grogan said.
At North Salinas Tuesday, the Mustangs got off to a slow start and lost the first game. But as the game wore on, Gilroy wore North Salinas down.
“(North Salinas) started tipping and using roll shots and playing a little less confident,” Grogan said. “We were able to take advantage of it a whole lot.”
Grogan said her team was excited to finally get a league win after a challenging league opening.
“We had three tough teams had to play right off the bat with Hollister, Live Oak and Notre Dame,” Grogan said. “Those are historically pretty competitive teams.”
Against North Salinas (1-4 in TCAL), Kayla Meazell (7 kills, 1 ace), Jessica Groppe (6 kills, 2 aces), Sara Griffis (5 kills) and Vanessa Wilkins (3 kills, 3 blocks, 3 aces) led the Gilroy attack.
Setters Katherine Hussey and Jennifer Smith each had 10 assists.
The JV team also beat North Salinas, 25-18, 25-13.
