Gilroy High returns home after 15-match road trip to win without
kill leader
Gilroy – When Gilroy volleyball captain Vinny DeLorenzo had to make a permanent trip to the bench in the first game of the Mustangs’ home match against Live Oak Tuesday, senior outside hitter Travis Graham found the opportunity to step up.
The Mustangs won the first game but lost the second without kill leader DeLorenzo, who received a red card mid-way through the first game. In the pivotal third set, however, Graham served nine straight service points to help Gilroy earn the third game and the momentum it would need to ultimately beat the Acorns 25-20, 22-25, 25-19, 25-23.
“Basically, I’ve been needing to do that for a while,” said Graham, who also had nine kills.
Gilroy, which has played 15 straight matches on the road, improved to 17-6 overall and a first-place 8-1 in the Tri-County Athletic League. Live Oak dropped to 4-6 in TCAL and 5-6 overall.
Losing DeLorenzo, who received a yellow card early in the first game when he approached the up referee to ask about a call, wasn’t the ideal situation for the Mustangs. The second time DeLorenzo (6 kills) questioned a call, he received a red card and was sent to the bench.
Neither of DeLorenzo’s visits to the stand were confrontational, but the referee apparently didn’t like a comment the senior made the second time around.
Nevertheless, Gilroy made the best of the situation after a messy second game. A kill from middle hitter Ryan Chisolm (10 kills) gave Gilroy a 13-11 lead and brought Graham to the service line in the third game. Opposite hitter Dominic Jackson (7 kills, 4 down blocks) put up a block for kill on the next play for another Gilroy point. From there, Graham’s tough serving caused the Acorns to make six straight errors resulting in Gilroy points. Live Oak called a timeout to try to regroup, but Graham answered with back-to-back aces after the break to give the Mustangs a 22-11 lead.
“I think it was more mental,” Graham said of what adjustments his team had to make without DeLorenzo. “He’s a big leader and a big part of the offense and defense, so that was big.”
Added head coach Craig Martin, “I’m really happy they adapted with the lineup. We really had to change that around.”
The team has also had to do without injured 6-foot-9 middle hitter Jason Conrad, who Martin said could be out until the playoffs.
The Mustangs and Acorns were tied 20-20 late in the third game. Moments later, Jackson came up with a big kill to put Gilroy ahead 24-22. Live Oak’s Mike Lucarelli-Cowles (17 kills) tooled a kill of a Mustang blocker to bring the Acorns within one, but missed his ensuing serve attempt to give Gilroy the game and the match.
Middle hitter Kevin Bruce (6 kills) and Mike Leininger (11 service points) also contributed for Gilroy.
The Mustangs play at Seaside Thursday at 6:15pm.
