Shaking off the sting of a three-set loss to rival San Benito
last Tuesday, which eliminated Gilroy’s boys volleyball team from
Tri-County Athletic league title contention, the Mustangs rolled
over Watsonville (25-11, 25-16, 25-18) on Thursday before going 2-2
in four games at the Los Gatos Invitational this past weekend.
A Senior Night victory over visiting Salinas today at 6 p.m.
would allow the Mustangs to match their win total from a season
ago.
GILROY – Shaking off the sting of a three-set loss to rival San Benito last Tuesday, which eliminated Gilroy’s boys volleyball team from Tri-County Athletic league title contention, the Mustangs rolled over Watsonville (25-11, 25-16, 25-18) on Thursday before going 2-2 in four games at the Los Gatos Invitational this past weekend.
“We had a nice long talk Wednesday, the day after Hollister, and it was not a motivational speech, but a plea to [players] to keep our season going,” Gilroy coach Scott Martin said. “We’re having a phenomenal season, but for whatever reason, we didn’t get it done against Hollister.”
The Mustangs are currently 20-7 overall and in second place in the TCAL at 10-2, with both league losses coming to Hollister. A Senior Night victory over visiting Salinas today at 6 p.m. would allow the Mustangs to match their win total from a season ago.
If Gilroy plays as well as it did against Watsonville, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Greg Calimpong handed out 47 assists for the Mustangs, helping to set up 14 kills by Alfred Medenceles, 13 kills by Etay Haramaty and 10 kills by Sam Howard. Nico Sandoval led the club in digs with 11 while Steven Valdez had a team-high three blocks.
“We had a real loose practice Wednesday and came out and played great against Watsonville,” Martin said. “That’s what we’ve had the last week – a real relaxed atmosphere.”
Gilroy took that approach to Los Gatos and won matches over Gunderson and Leigh before losing to Homestead and Los Gatos. The defeats weren’t much of a surprise considering the talent of the teams the Mustangs were facing, Martin said, but the effort shown was exactly what coaches were hoping to see.
“We get stuck with Homestead in our pool – they’re maybe a hair below a college team,” Martin said. “Los Gatos is number one in [the Central Coast Section] right now.
“That was a little bit unfortunate with the schedule, but I was proud of the guys. They came out and I found the best way for us to play against teams like that, where on paper we’re way behind them talent-wise, is to just come out and don’t have any expectations. Play loose, come to play … and see where it goes.
“I think we probably ended up turning a couple heads and gaining some respect.”
Gilroy will play its final game of the regular season Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Seaside.
