At critical points during the Gilroy volleyball team’s 3-1 loss
to North County Tuesday, a ball would land in between two Mustang
players.
At critical points during the Gilroy volleyball team’s 3-1 loss to North County Tuesday, a ball would land in between two Mustang players.
Those moments – many of which occurred as GHS attempted to force a Game 5 – only further illustrated what has been a concern of coach Sam Navarez’s all season long.
“Any time the ball hits the ground like that, there’s definitely a lack of communication,” Navarez said. “And that’s been a major problems of ours.”
Since a Sept. 9 win over Scotts Valley, the Mustangs (4-7) have dropped six in a row. The team struggled mightily during both a loss at Seaside and at a Saturday tournament in Campbell, where Gilroy lost all four matches.
“It’s been a bit downhill,” Navarez said.
The third-year coach is quick to note the relative youth of his team. Several departing seniors left him no choice but to switch the positions of many of his returning players.
The biggest problem, though, continues to be the group’s quiet nature on the court.
“Communication is the hardest thing for them,” Navarez said. “And if we can’t talk on the court, that’s just going to make it much more difficult.
“They believe they’re communicating … but just facial expressions aren’t enough.”
According to senior middle back Amy Trujillo, something just doesn’t click when the team is on the court – even in practice.
“We bond and get along fine off the court,” she said. “We’re just not meshing well on it. We don’t communicate like we should.
“Some of that comes natural, but we can also learn and get better.”
If not, the team’s sagging confidence might continue to spiral, Navarez said.
“A lack of communication pretty much means a lack of confidence – a lack of confidence in themselves and with each other,” he said.
Against the Condors, the Mustangs simply dug themselves too deep a hole.
Although they rallied to win the third game, 25-18, the ‘Stangs dropped the first two games of the match, 25-21 and 25-22.
Gilroy led for much of Game 4, with a shot at forcing a fifth game, but lost the match after North County scored the last seven points of the night.
In a losing effort, senior outside hitter Amanda Link led the team with 10 kills.
“I really thought we’d push it to five there,” Navarez said. “But we just can’t dig ourselves in a hole like that.
“We’re not consistent enough yet to come back from 0-2.”
With just one more match remaining before the start of league play, Navarez said some changes are on the way.
In addition to a shakeup on the back row, the team is likely to switch to a 6-2 format, which means a pair of setters will be on the court at the same time.
“When you hit a losing streak, though, the biggest test is from a mental standpoint,” Navarez said. “The girls just have to find it within themselves to take it to the next level.
“I keep telling them they can do it and they can be competitive, but they have to start believing that, too.”
