Gilroy – The Live Oak boys’ volleyball team suffered a lopsided loss to talented Gilroy the first time the two teams faced each other. But for good reason: The Acorns hadn’t yet played together.
In its second meeting with the Mustangs, Live Oak got to see just how much practice has been paying off.
With just six players on its roster (the Acorns’ Josh Smith left the team prior to Monday’s game against Alisal), Live Oak took one game from the Tri-County Athletic League’s first-place team before ultimately falling 25-20, 22-25, 25-19, 25-23 in Gilroy Tuesday.
“We’ve had a lot of experience since (the first Gilroy match),” said Live Oak senior outside hitter Mike Lucarelli-Cowles. “I’m sure this is a product of that.”
Live Oak fell 29-27, 25-22, 25-15 to Palma Thursday, dropping the Acorns to 5-7 overall and 4-7 in TCAL. Gilroy is 17-6 overall and 8-1 in league.
Against the Mustangs, Lucarelli-Cowles led the Acorns with an impressive all-around performance of 17 kills and 15 digs.
“Almost every match, (Mike) is my kill leader and he is my dig leader,” said Live Oak head coach Gayle Yankee. “His leadership and experience have really served us well.”
Senior middle hitter Joel Seiber recorded nine kills and Matt Ellis had eight.
Yankee said the Acorns will be with six players – a number that doesn’t afford Live Oak any reserve players – for the rest of the season. Though that means the Acorns don’t have to adjust to new players coming in and out of matches, Lucarelli-Cowles said it makes competition more difficult.
“It’s definitely more of a challenge. It’s hard on your endurance,” the senior said. “But it’s a good sweat.”
Ana Patejdl covers sports for South Valley Newspapers. She can be reached at ap******@gi************.com.
