Live Oak’s experience proves too much for young Sobrato
squad
Morgan Hill – In the first meeting between the Live Oak Acorn and Sobrato Bulldog boys volleyball teams, the Acorns (5-4, 4-4 TCAL) small experienced team defeated the young Bulldogs (1-8, 1-7 TCAL) in three straight games on Tuesday at Live Oak, 25-16, 25-13, 25-8.
“I think the match went pretty much like I expected it to,” said Live Oak coach Gayle Yankee. “They (the Acorns) got to work on skills they needed to.”
“I was very impressed with a number of their kids,” added Yankee. “I can’t wait to see Jared (Mammen) play as a senior.”
Outside hitter Mike Lucarelli-Cowles led the Acorns with 15 digs, six aces and five kills in the win. Teammate Justin Venneman added 25 assists, six kills and four digs and Josh Smith contributed 10 kills and five digs.
Lucarelli-Cowles leads the Acorns in kills (93) and digs (102), ranking seventh in the Monterey Bay prep area in kills. Venneman leads Live Oak in assists (201) and blocks (10.5), while Cesar Maldonado leads the team in service points (71) and is tied with Smith for the most aces (16).
“We’ve had three relatively easy matches in a row and I’ve been trying to keep them focused,” said Yankee.
All season the Acorns have had to make due with just seven players, leaving them only one substitute. However, with six seniors on the squad, Live Oak makes up for their lack of numbers with experience.
Live Oak takes on Alisal on Monday night in San Jose.
As a freshman, the Bulldogs’ co-captain Jared Mammen leads Sobrato in kills (37), blocks (28) and aces (13). Mammen is ranked fourth in the Monterey Bay prep are in blocks and fifth in aces. Teammate Jacob Maack is ranked 10th in blocks with 10 on the season. Bulldog Shawn Tharayil leads the team with 46 assists and libero Lawrence Won leads Sobrato with 10 digs this season.
On Thursday evening the Bulldogs took on Palma at home and fell in three games, 25-6, 25-10, 25-11.
The Bulldogs host San Benito on Tuesday at 6:30pm
