Although Gilroy fell in three games, the Mustangs are
competitive
Hollister – There are no “W’s” in defeat.
And yet, Caitlin Chisholm was able to smile after Gilroy’s girls lost Tuesday to San Benito 25-12, 25-14, 25-21 in the Tri-County Athletic League opener for both teams.
After all, the Haybalers are the top TCAL team, coming off an unbeaten league season and already owning a victory over defending Central Coast Section Division 1 champion Carlmont last week. San Benito is 13-1 overall and has won nine straight.
“They’re very good,” Chisholm said. “They’re well coached and very organized. They work together and run plays. It’s amazing if you can work like that. But we made them work for it.”
Coach Sue Grogan felt the Mustangs (6-6) worked together as well as they had all season, and certainly much better than last week when they were swept by Sobrato.
GHS blocked and dug well. And in the third game when San Benito coach Dean Askanas attempted to rest 2005 TCAL Most Valuable Player Emily Kortsen, the Mustangs made him re-think his decision.
After falling behind 14-8, Chisholm and Vanessa Wilkins rallied Gilroy. A Kayla Meazell ace and Chisholm kill put the Mustangs ahead 17-16. Kortsen returned to the court and made her presence felt with a kill and an ace down the stretch as the ‘Balers held off GHS.
“They’ve improved,” Askanas said of the Mustangs. “They’re getting better and better.”
Wilkins had four kills and three blocks, Jasmine Perez had 15 digs and Jennifer Smith had nine assists for GHS. Chelsea Fowles had 11 kills and two aces, Kortsen had nine kills, Morgan O’Laughlin had eight kills and Ali Sharp four blocks for San Benito.
The ‘Balers got off to fast starts in the first two games. A Fowles ace and two Kortsen kills keyed a 7-0 start for San Benito in the first game. A seven-point run in the second game gave the ‘Balers a 9-1 lead. GHS never got closer than six points in either of the first two games after the opening San Benito scoring runs.
“I told the girls they need to understand that they played very well,” Grogan said. “I told them to focus on what they did right in this match, and not what they did wrong. They communicated well and did what we wanted them to do.”
But they didn’t win, which gave Chisholm mixed feelings.
“You’re never satisfied with a loss,” Chisholm said. “I’m glad we stepped up after the last match (against Sobrato). We had a team talk about that. Coach told us it’s not who you play, it’s how you play. We knew we had to step it up and show ourselves again.”
JV, FROSH: The San Benito sub-varsity teams each posted wins over GHS. The junior varsity won 25-12, 25-4, and the freshmen were victorious 25-22, 25-18.
