GILROY—The score of the Christopher and Gilroy volleyball game was quickly forgotten by the players Thursday night. After the match, Cougars and Mustangs talked, laughed and posed for pictures together and for the seniors, the evening was bittersweet.
This was the lone meeting between the two teams and for the seniors, it was the last time they’d see their crosstown counterparts on the other side of the net.
“I like playing against Gilroy because it’s a rivalry in the city, but it was good playing against our friends,” Christopher senior Ally Foster said. “Obviously it was good to win, that’s always great too.”
“At the end of the day we’re just all really good friends,” added Gilroy senior Sarhay Luna. “It’s just in the court we’re really competitive, but after we’re like ‘oh good game!’ It was just good for us to try and do our best. If we lose, it’s OK.”
The Cougars topped Gilroy in straight sets 25-10, 25-15, 25-13 at home behind a strong offensive performance by Olivia Tabron who had 16 kills in the game.
Tabron said she was proud of her team for staying focused as sometimes the excitement of playing Gilroy can take it’s toll.
“It was good that we took it seriously because sometimes you go out and you’re too excited,” she said. “It’s weird knowing we’re not going to play them again, but we’ve been them the last three years I think. It’s fun and it’s a good way to end it.”
The Mustangs kept Christopher on its toes, however, capitalizing on it’s errors and delivering timely hits, especially in Game 2.
Gilroy trailed 7-4 early in the second set, but used the Cougars’ miscues to tie the game and the take the lead at 11-10. Junior Khaya Price delivered back-to-back kills for Christopher that ignited a seven-point run to help it pull away for good.
“For the most part, I’m happy with what we did,” Gilroy coach Paolo Palao said. “I tried a little bit of a new rotation and the girls were getting a little confused, but they managed after one or two plays to know where they were supposed to be. I think the highlight of this thing, for me, is we kept our serving pretty consistent and pretty aggressive.”
Christopher jumped out to a 4-0 lead to start Game 3 thanks to two kills from Samantha Dolan and an ace from Christa Arroyo. A few out of bounds hits from the Cougars allowed Gilroy back in the game to trail by two at 6-4. But a couple errors from the Mustangs side and solid Cougar coverage kicked off an 11-point run for the hosts. Audrey Zitnay picked up two aces while Amanda Hebison had one and Tabron added two kills in the rally.
Arroyo and Hebison each had three aces in the match. Arroyo also had 29 assists and 14 digs. Marielle Gomez led the team in digs with 18.
“I saw offensively what we can do when we’re in the system,” Christopher coach Brian Calimpong said. “Our service line, we probably served better tonight than we have all season, which has really kind of hurt us in a few games. It hasn’t bitten us, but that’s something we’re getting better at.”
Sarah Weiby had three kills for Gilroy and Gabby Martinez added two. Evelyn Clonts led the way defensively with four blocks, while Jenna Clonts and Gloria Bernal had two a piece.
The Mustangs (1-3) will return to the court to host North Salinas at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Before then, Martinez said the team will need to work on it’s communication.
“We have good passing, we just need to start talking and discipline ourselves more,” she said. “We have new players and it’s hard for them to adjust and it’s hard for us to adjust, too.”
Christopher will play at Anzar at 6:30 p.m. today. Calimpong said he wants his team to work on capitalizing on it’s opportunities moving forward.
“We’re sitting at 9-3 right now and I’m happy,” he said. “I’m happy, but obviously never satisfied.”
