Beating the second-place team in the league at their place to
all but clinch the league title isn
’t quite enough for Live Oak High boys volleyball coach James
Uthes.
Beating the second-place team in the league at their place to all but clinch the league title isn’t quite enough for Live Oak High boys volleyball coach James Uthes.
That’s because he has his sights set on bigger things than the Tri-County Athletic League champion-ship.
And, that’s why Friday’s 23-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-14 victory at Monterey had Uthes more concerned than impressed.
It seems that the Acorn coach has detected a worrisome trend in his team’s victories lately — namely, a slow start.
“We can whip any team in the league but almost every team, we let them have the first game and then turn it on and whip them,” Uthes said. “It’s almost like cat and mouse, I guess. We have had way too many four-game matches lately.”
In the first meeting between the two teams, on March 24, Monterey also won the first game before Live Oak took control and won in four games.
Uthes said he’s confident that his team will be fine in league play despite the tendency to warm up slowly.
But when it comes to postseason play against more talented opponents, Uthes said the sluggish beginnings could come back to bite the Acorns.
I’m concerned, not about league, but about the (Central Coast Section) playoffs because we can’t afford a slow start in CCS. The teams we’ll face in the playoffs are totally different than in league. You can’t give them that kick-start.”
Despite their coach’s neuroses, the Acorns have been impressive this season.
Friday’s victory improved their league record to a spotless 10-0 (18-3 overall).
And, it dumped second-place Monterey three games back at 7-3 in league play with just four matches to go.
For the Acorns, Royce Newcomb had 16 kills, Ryan Siebert added 10 kills, and Cameron Bassett had five.
Live Oak plays at Hollister-San Benito on Wednesday and hosts Salinas on Friday this week.
The Acorns wrap up their TCAL schedule the following week with home matches against Gilroy and Alisal.
