North Salinas almost started celebrating too soon. After
dropping two close games 19-25 and 23-25 to start the match on
Wednesday night, Gilroy rallied to win the next two 25-19 and 25-23
but then dropped the deciding fifth game 11-15.
North Salinas almost started celebrating too soon.
After dropping two close games 19-25 and 23-25 to start the match on Wednesday night, Gilroy rallied to win the next two 25-19 and 25-23 but then dropped the deciding fifth game 11-15.
The Mustangs (15-16, 3-7 TCAL) lost in three games against North Salinas at the start of the season, but that was without power hitter Melissa Avila.
Avila led the Mustangs with 11 kills, 11 digs and 6 aces.
“When you lose someone like that, you got to be able to fill the hole,” said coach Sue Grogan. “She plays a lot of defense. They did a good job covering for her. Volleyball is definitely a team sport, but we had big shoes to fill while she was gone.”
Other major contributors included setter Lindsay Meazell (17 assists, 3 kills, 15 digs, 3 aces), setter Brittany Lewis (12 assists, 7 digs), Caitlin Chisolm (8 kills, 21 digs and 1 ace), Lindsey Foster (7 kills, 3 blocks, 1 assist), libero Jasmine Perez (23 digs and 5 aces) and Loryn Ferreira (5 kills, 1 assist, 8 assists, 3 aces)
The Mustangs who had 37 team kills and 31 one assists, only had 10 forced errors, a number Grogan was happy with.
“A lot of times, we will hit it into the net or hit it out and end up hurting ourselves,” Grogan said. “I was happy with how the girls played. It was kind of a do-or-die situation.”
Gilroy has two games remaining – Tuesday against Salinas on Senior night and Nov. 1 at Alisal before the Central Coast Section seeding meeting on Nov. 3 that will determine if the Mustangs make the playoffs.
Subvarsity note: The Gilroy freshmen team defeated North Salinas 18-25, 25-22, 15-5 while the JV team lost 31-33, 26-24.
