SHS shows flash of potential in beating first-place Lincoln;
Acorns continue pulling away in Mount Hamilton with four-set win
over Leland
MORGAN HILL — Sobrato coach Danny Chan said his young girls volleyball team is “almost ready” to get over the hump after the Bulldogs dominated and struggled in Tuesday’s match against Santa Teresa Division front-runner Lincoln.
Sobrato pulled it together to win 25-23, 23-25, 25-19, 19-25, 15-13, and the scores say everything about the back-and-forth nature of the Bulldogs’ play. There was an equal mix of excitement and relief in the postgame celebration.
“We’re at the point where, basically, it’s a new team,” said 5-foot-10 middle blocker Jessica Westall, whose 10 kills, five blocks and three stuff-blocks spearheaded a crucial night at the net for Sobrato. “We’re learning how to push all the way through the game and give it our all the whole way through.”
The Bulldogs (3-2 league) took a large step toward playing in top form Thursday when they swept Pioneer in three sets on the road.
Tuesday at Sobrato High School, the Bulldogs committed several mistakes against the previously unbeaten Lions (4-1). But for each string of errors, Sobrato countered with impressive runs triggered by excellent teamwork and aptly called timeouts.
“We had some down points, but everyone stepped up,” Sobrato outside hitter Emily Kyle said. “Not talking hurt us. We’d get down and not play as well. Once somebody cheered us up, we got it back together.”
It seemed like every SHS player had a key moment. There was Westall’s two blocks, dig and kill in the fifth set, Rebekah Inouye’s timely tip-kills and blocks that helped her team finish strong in games 1 and 3 — the first-year varsity blocker had four kills, four blocks and two stuffs — and Kyle’s on-the-spot effort all around — the sophomore had 19 digs to go with half a dozen kills.
“Emily’s very consistent and very helpful,” Westall said. “Bekah has these spurts of greatness where she just makes crazy kills, and we can’t believe what’s happening.
“They’re both great assets to the team.”
Sobrato senior Andreya Simoneau (nine kills, six digs, six assists) scored an ace to open the fifth set, and freshman hitter Miranda Wertz smashed home a spike with her left hand for the game-winning point.
Then there was the reliable play of seniors Kayla McElvy (20 assists) and Jennifer Hinman (37 digs), whose energy willed the Bulldogs through several late rallies by Lincoln.
“They’re natural leaders on the court,” Chan said. “They come out and help us stay focused.”
The Lions are in first place for good reason. They looked almost unstoppable in rallying from a six-point deficit to win Game 4, and a four-point deficit to take the second set. They stumbled at times but were able to dig themselves out of every deficit by refocusing.
Nina Bradley had 17 digs and eight kills, and Isabella Tantillo collected 31 assists to lead Lincoln.
The outcome could have been different without Hinman’s monster night at the backline, but so it goes for talented players and good teams. They find ways to win.
How close are the Bulldogs to being good every night?
“We’re getting there,” Westall said.
“We’re really, really close,” Kyle added. “We have a new leaf to turn over.”
Sobrato hosts Santa Teresa at 6 p.m. today.
Live Oak knocked down the biggest obstacle standing between it and a perfect run through the first half of Mount Hamilton Division play Tuesday, beating Leland 25-20, 25-14, 16-25, 25-20 for the first time years.
Gabi Cinkova and Fa Saulala had 19 kills apiece for the host Acorns (5-0 league), who played their entire lineup.
Live Oak hosts Mount Pleasant at 6 p.m. today.
