Riding sheer determination alone most of the night, Live Oak
nearly went five games against visiting Castilleja on Tuesday in a
marquee match of the nonleague girls volleyball season. The Acorns
needed to be sharper though in the 25-17, 23-25, 25-14, 25-22 loss;
just as they will likely need to be against other private schools
in the Central Coast Section if they hope to surpass last year’s
run to the Division III quarterfinals. Private school or not,
Castilleja had nothing to do with Live Oak’s struggles to keep the
ball in play
MORGAN HILL
Riding sheer determination alone most of the night, Live Oak nearly went five games against visiting Castilleja on Tuesday in a marquee match of the nonleague girls volleyball season.
The Acorns needed to be sharper though in the 25-17, 23-25, 25-14, 25-22 loss; just as they will likely need to be against other private schools in the Central Coast Section if they hope to surpass last year’s run to the Division III quarterfinals.
Private school or not, Castilleja had nothing to do with Live Oak’s struggles to keep the ball in play.
“Right now we’re counting the errors we make each game, and there’s a lot of them,” first-year LOHS coach James Uthes said. “Our serving errors, passing mistakes … if we can cut down on those, we’re going to do well this season.”
There was no questioning that after Game 4, when the Acorns dug themselves a 19-12 deficit with four errors only to score nine of the next 10 points to lead 21-20.
Castilleja’s passing deteriorated during that stretch. But the Gators (4-3) returned to form in time to prevail as the more fundamentally sound team.
“I really don’t think they were that much better than us. I think there was something wrong with us tonight,” LOHS defensive specialist Shawnee Davis said. “They had that middle — she was huge. But I think we could have done a lot better. We just didn’t feel right.”
Any intimidation in playing a private school, one that reached the Division V semifinals in 2010?
“No, we actually didn’t know they’re a private school until they got here,” Davis said.
Davis referred to Castilleja’s 6-foot-1 senior middle Hannah Boland, who dominated at the net to the tune of nine kills, seven blocks and six stuff blocks.
Live Oak (1-2) countered well in the middle with seniors Allison Shedden (four kills, five blocks) and Katie Obbema (three kills, five blocks).
“She was really tough to play against. We had a great battle going,” Shedden said. “All we can do is just play our game. We knew to camp out on her and try to make plays when we could.”
After coming out flat in Game 1, Live Oak regained some its poise in Game 2 behind four kills by Fa Saulala and five of Alli Unger’s game-high 42 digs.
Saulala led the Acorns with 11 kills, including four in Game 4, while Jackie Protsman totaled 10 assists and Jenny Obbema seven.
Live Oak climbed out of another big hole — 19-15 — to steal Game 2, with Davis scoring three straight aces, and Protsman adding a tip kill and a big assist to Saulala for the final two points.
“To be honest, I’m not disappointed with the girls right now,” Uthes said. “They really stepped up to stay in it, especially Allison and Savanna. They carried us at times.
“If we played our previous games like we did tonight, honestly, we’d be undefeated. We just need to cut down on mistakes.”
Live Oak players were equally optimistic about their primary goal of defending the Mount Hamilton Division title. They open league play at home Sept. 20 against Evergreen Valley.
“Might be some early-season jitters there still, but we were really clicking toward the end,” said Shedden, one of four returning starters for the Acorns. “I’m confident that we’re going to do well this year. We’re coming together now, which is most important.”
- The Sobrato Bulldogs took a big step forward in their home opener Tuesday, knocking off an A league team in Evergreen Valley 24-26, 25-18, 25-12, 25-15.
Sobrato dropped the first game but dominated the rest of the way with 12 kills by Emily Kyle, 11 by Jessica Westall and 28 assists, four kills and four aces by Miranda Werts.
Devyn Gunsky, Katie Chagnon and Kaylee Simmons passed well for the Bulldogs (3-3), who visit Pajaro Valley on Thursday and host Santa Clara on Friday to wrap nonleague play.
Sobrato’s Santa Teresa Division opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 20 against visiting Prospect.
