They play to their level while sweeping Del Mar to move to 9-0
in league
MORGAN HILL
Sometimes the Live Oak Acorns have to challenge themselves.
That’s life when you’re this good: 13-5 overall, 9-0 and hardly challenged in league, eager to improve even when your opponent won’t hold you to it.
So, Live Oak held itself to a higher standard Tuesday against winless Del Mar. The host Acorns won 25-16, 25-15, 25-14 and won every “game within the game,” not letting the lack of energy and rhythm in the Mount Hamilton Division volleyball match weigh them down.
They stayed on their toes by dialing up challenging new sets for Alyssa Brusaschetti — the senior rotated blockers Allison Shedden and Katie Obbema into the offense on top of star hitters Gabi Cinkova and Fa Saulala — and defending Del Mar’s spikes from every position. Eight Acorns recorded digs, leaving seven for their libero, Alli Unger.
Aside from their best league start in more than a decade, the first-place Acorns enjoyed a mental victory.
“(9-0) feels good to me,” said Saulala, who pounded five of her 11 kills in the first set and had three digs and an ace. “We’re doing a good job staying consistent. That’s how we need to be. Start early, finish late, keep the same mindset the whole game.”
Cinkova collected seven kills, five digs and three aces and seldom missed her mark, same with Saulala. They were set up well by Brusaschetti, who lofted 19 assists including eight in Game 2.
“In a game like this, where can’t get any rallies, and nothing falls into place for you, it’s great having a setter like Alyssa,” Live Oak coach Laura Coleman said. “She keeps us in rhythm. Even when her sets aren’t perfect, our hitters just need to keep the ball in play. Put the pressure on the other team, then get the ball back and start over. We did that well tonight.”
Her team is off to its best start in league since her first year at Live Oak, but “happy” wasn’t the way Coleman described the feeling.
“I’m very scared. I don’t like having the bull’s-eye on my back,” she kidded. “I like being the underdog, personally, but at least the girls aren’t worried. They’re coming around.
“Three years ago, we had no confidence. Now, the confidence is there. It doesn’t mean we’ll go undefeated, but it does show they can step it up when they need to.”
The Acorns’ closest call came last week at Evergreen Valley, when they trailed two games to one before winning the next three games. Live Oak is not out of the woods yet. Coleman’s club visits Leland on Thursday and hosts second-place Willow Glen in the final regular-season game Nov. 4 — the Acorns’ first league title since 2001 could be on the line.
Live Oak will also play in the challenging Spike Fest Tournament the final weekend of October.
“We schedule that every year because it’s right before (the playoffs),” Coleman said. “We’ll be prepared.”
The Sobrato Bulldogs returned to Santa Teresa Division play on Tuesday and put up a decent fight against visiting Silver Creek.
The first-place Raiders prevailed in four games, 25-22, 25-22, 19-25 25-17, to move to 9-0 in league. It was their seventh straight victory.
Senior hitter Nicole Simoneau had six kills to lead the Lady Bulldogs (4-5), who host Pioneer in their last of two remaining home games Tuesday.
CROSS COUNTRY
Live Oak freshman Kalum Bergstrom finished second overall in a personal-record 16 minutes, 39 seconds at Wednesday’s West Valley Division meet to help the Acorns wrap up a 6-0 finish in league duals with a 28-29 victory over Del Mar.
The Dons were undefeated as well heading to the 2.95-mile course at Montgomery Hill.
“Kalum really carried us. That’s not bad for a freshman,” Live Oak coach Tom Sumpter said. “He’s been right up there this year.”
The Acorns are in good position to clinch a division title heading into the Nov. 1 Blossom Valley Athletic League Finals meet at Crystal Springs. Their Nos. 2-3 runners, Adam Groen and Eddie Placencia, are right behind Bergstrom with PRs of 17:20 and 17:55.
Live Oak’s girls team also beat Del Mar on Wednesday to finish tied for second at 5-1. Their senior leader, Chelsie Faulk, trimmed her best time to 19:31.
With Bergstrom and Placencia in the lineup, Live Oak’s frosh/soph boys team placed second out of seven teams in last Saturday’s Monterey Bay Invitational.
FIELD HOCKEY
The Acorns suffered their second loss in Santa Teresa competition Wednesday, allowing three second-half goals in a 4-3 loss at Prospect.
Live Oak is still tied for first place and is closing in on a CCS-playoff berth.
Sydney Barker scored and had an assist, and Marisa Faust and Anisha Patel also collected goals for the Acorns (7-2 league).
Live Oak was coming off a 3-1 victory over Lynbrook on Friday, when the Acorns pulled away late with goals by Barker, Danielle Horning and Lysette Abarca. Teammates Megan Rauschnot, Michaela Swenson and Faust were credited with assists.
