On Sept. 20, the Christopher High volleyball team lost a 3-2 match to Alisal. It turned out to be the last defeat the Cougars endured in the Monterey Bay League Pacific Division this season.
CHS (19-13 overall, 11-1 MBL) put the finishing touches on the program’s first league championship Thursday night, topping Monterey 25-15, 25-21, 23-25, 25-16 in the season finally.
“I can’t say enough about this group. They bought into the team concept from Day 1,” CHS head coach Brian Calimpong said. “
The Toreadores were the only roadblock between the Cougars and a division title. CHS managed its way through for its 10th consecutive league match victory.
“The message was if we take another loss , we can kiss our league championship goodbye,” Calimpong said of the early defeat to Alisal. “They worked hard every day in practice. Not everyone was at their best all the time, but everyone contributed and we tried to be strongest version of ourselves every night. Are motto was 14 strong. They came together and they wanted it.”
Calimpong lauded the senior leadership of Hanna Tabron, Katie Wheat, Alex Gerberick and Kaitlin Brummitt.
“They all led in different areas on and off the court,” Calimpong said.
Tabron again paced the Cougars with 17 kills and Olivia Tabron landed 12 kills. She also had five blocks. Gerberick had 29 assists and 15 digs. Christa Arroyo had 21 digs.
With the league title, the Cougars also grab the lone automatic bid into the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs – the first postseason appearance for CHS.
Calimpong said the team is guaranteed a home match Wednesday. The Cougars will find out their opponent this weekend.
“The girls don’t want to quit,” Calimpong said. “We are excited to see what else we can accomplish.”
GHS VOLLEYBALL
Senior Haley Sepulveda picked an opportune time to deliver a career-high nine aces as the Gilroy High volleyball team swept North Monterey County 25-12, 25-6, 25-17 on Senior Night and the season finale for both schools.
Fellow senior Samantha Una’Dia chipped in two aces and one block. Junior Meghan Adams led the offensive attack with 14 kills, while Leilani Mah had six and Ballie Carpenter four.
The Mustangs ended the season at 5-7 in the MBL Pacific Division.
FIELD HOCKEY
Ezzie Gobea scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lift the Gilroy High field hockey team to a 1-0 victory over host Saratoga in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Mount Hamilton Division season finale for both teams Thursday.
Gobea’s goal was set up by Emma Leach and Katrina Carter, and was the end result of a short-corner try.
The Mustangs (9-3-2 division) finished in third place behind league champion Los Gatos and second-place Mitty. Gilroy also earned a spot into the Central Coast Section playoffs and will most likely be placed as the third seed. The official bracket will be released Saturday.
WATER POLO
Monterey send the Christopher High girls team to a 12-2 defeat in the second round of the MBL Pacific Division tournament Thursday.
