With just one returning starter this season, the Gilroy High
girls’ volleyball team is rather inexperienced.
With just one returning starter this season, the Gilroy High girls’ volleyball team is rather inexperienced.
Among the starters are two sophomores and a few players who competed last year, but in reserve roles.
So an early-season setback – like the Mustangs’ 3-1 home loss to Anzar Wednesday – has to be viewed as a learning experience, said coach Sam Navarez.
“We’ve got a lot of returning players, but we’re inexperienced because we’re having to mold them into a brand new team,” he said.
“That’s why I’m proud these girls hung in there today. We’re learning.”
Gilroy opened the season with a 3-1 win at Alvarez on Tuesday. Anzar provided a step up in competition, though, and the Mustangs quickly found that out.
GHS dug itself a hole early, dropping the first two games 25-21 and 25-12. The Mustangs rallied for a 25-20 victory in the third game, but the Hawks finished it off with a 25-18 clincher.
In the loss, senior outside hitter Amanda Link led the team with seven kills, while senior setter Katherine Hussey added 10 assists.
“The players aren’t really pleased with the way we played,” Hussey said. “But we are pretty inexperienced. All we can do is just keep working at it.”
According to teammate Jessica Groppe, the team prefers to get better against CCS contenders like Anzar and today’s oppponent, Santa Teresa High.
“Last year we played a bunch of easy teams early on,” the junior said, “and it was so much harder once we got to our league. I think we were kind of overwhelmed.”
That’s exactly what Navarez said he’s trying to avoid this year.
“These are the type games that will help us grow and get ready for league play,” he said. “We’re still feeling out the the team and they’re still getting a few jitters out.
“One loss won’t do us in.”
Field Hockey starts with shutout
Meanwhile, the Gilroy field hockey team couldn’t have asked for a better opener.
In a preseason game Tuesday, the Mustangs traveled to Monterey and shutout the Toreadors, 5-0
“The girls did everything we wanted them to,” said co-head coach Erin Gemar. “We were playing a team we were better than, but they knew they couldn’t just mess around and win.”
Gemar said a GHS team has never opened a season with a larger margin of victory.
Gilroy was led by sophomore Dana Schoenman. Playing in her first field hockey game, she scored two goals and won the team’s “Player of the Game” award.
Meg Perkins, Shante Mancera and Nicole Souza added scores for the Mustangs, who will continue their season with Friday’s home opener against Saratoga.
