Still riding high after taking first place in the Silver
Division of the Mustang Classic over the weekend, the Gilroy’s
girls varsity volleyball team continued its winning ways by beating
visiting Alisal 25-15, 25-23, 15-25, 25-16 on Tuesday.
Gilroy – Still riding high after taking first place in the Silver Division of the Mustang Classic over the weekend, the Gilroy’s girls varsity volleyball team continued its winning ways by beating visiting Alisal 25-15, 25-23, 15-25, 25-16 on Tuesday.
The team is now on a four-game winning streak.
“It was a little bit closer than it should have been, but they’ve gotta find their rhythm, find their way (to win),” GHS coach Sue Grogan said.
The Mustangs looked strong until faltering in the third game of the match, when Alisal gained a bit of momentum, and luck, as the game-winning serve just touched the back line. Playing with greater focus in the fourth game, Gilroy was able to seal the match.
Loryn Ferreira led the team with 12 kills and also contributed six digs. After the game, she said the previous weekend had helped raise the overall level of play.
“Our last games we played all together,” Ferreira said. “It was fun to see the intensity.”
After defeating Pioneer in their first match, the Mustangs had to rebound from defeats to Mills and South San Francisco in pool play on Saturday. The result was three straight wins against Soledad, Scotts Valley and Monterey to take first place in the Silver Division. South San Francisco took first in the Gold Division.
While GHS’ intensity wasn’t quite as high on Tuesday as it was over the weekend, the energy on display was enough to get the job done.
Caitlin Chisolm had eight kills and 10 digs and Lindsey Foster had 12 kills and six digs. Jasmine Perez had 11 digs and Melissa Avila was all over the court, contributing two kills, 11 digs and 12 service points.
“I thought we would have won it in three (games),” Foster said. “The way I see it, you can’t be satisfied. Just being satisfied isn’t good enough.”
Coach Grogan talked about how her young team (10-11 overall, 2-4 in league play) is starting to improve and learn what it takes to compete at the varsity level.
“It’s more of getting them to talk to each other on the court and communicate,” she said, “because that’s what volleyball is about.”
And with the focus now being all about the next game, the Mustangs’ attention shifts to first-place San Benito in what will be one of the toughest games of the year. The varsity match begins at 6:30pm on Thursday.
