After finishing third place in the Monterey Bay League last year
with a 9-5, Live Oak knows what it has to do this year – win the
league title.
After finishing third place in the Monterey Bay League last year with a 9-5, Live Oak knows what it has to do this year – win the league title.
“We felt we were in a strong place to get at least second place,” said Live Oak coach John Telfer. “We and Gilroy found out that it is almost imperative that you finish No. in TCAL to make CCS.”
Even though the Acorns are now in the Tri-County Athletic League, the league remains unchanged from last year. Alisal, Seaside and Monterey continue to remain in the TCAL after crossing over from their normal respective leagues. Live Oak will be joined by Gilroy, Palma, Salinas and San Benito.
And the Live Oak team remains virtually the same. It will be a team full of senior leadership. Drew Pearson, a 6-foot-9 left handed senior, and Chris Deem, a 6-foot-9 senior, will provide the height for the team.
“I haven’t seen a team yet stop either one of the tall guys,” Telfer said. “You can put triple blockers against these guys, but they’re so tall they’re hitting over the top of the block.”
“They’re timing is still a little off with basketball,” Telfer added. “They are up in the air way early. But by the end of the week they should be pretty sharp.”
The problem is getting it to them, Telfer said.
The Acorns are going into the league season with a 5-4 record after finishing fifth in the Oak Grove Tournament last weekend.
Live Oak was defeated 15-3, 15-9 by Mountain View, who finished in second place behind Homestead, in an 8 a.m. Saturday morning game.
“We are not a fast starting team,” Telfer said. “Last year we also seemed to struggle with early morning tournaments.”
In the second match against Redwood Christian out of San Leonandro, Live Oak bounced back and won 15-5, 12-15, 15-5. Live Oak knocked off Westmont 15-2, 16-14 to finish second in the pool.
That seeded Live Oak against a No. 1 pool team – Oak Grove. The Acorns had lost to Oak Grove earlier in the week in a preseason meeting.
Live Oak was up 9-3 in the first game, but Oak Grove came back and won 16-14 and then won the second game 15-8.
In the final match, Live Oak knocked off league rival Hollister 15-9, 15-11.
“It was what wanted – playing a lot of good volleyball,” Telfer said about the tournament.
Jeromy Bouchette had a strong tournament playing middle right for the injured Gavin Kolodge, who suffered a back injury snow boarding. Kolodge is starting practicing this week and should be out another week at least, but Telfer said he doesn’t want to rush him.
“He really had a huge improvement from last season,” Telfer said. “So I was looking forward to having him. He is an all-court player, and I don’t have too many of those.”
Eric Telfer also had a strong tournament.
“He had probably his best day of his career,” his dad said. “He was the kill leader in just about every game. He had several strings of serves.”
Sampson Chan is taking over as the setter. Matt McElroy, who is on the swim team, is also stepping up into that roll.
The Acorns’ only sophomore, Royce Newcome, is coming on strong as an outside hitter and plays all the way around.
“They’re all pretty interchangeable, which gives me the luxury of being able to do more strategic moves.” Telfer said of the 14 players on the roster. “I need one more really solid backrow guy. No one has really stepped up yet.”
Cameron Bassett and Josh Valdez, who is on the diving team, are two possibilities.
The Acorns will be playing in the Leland tournament this weekend. One of teams Live Oak plays against is volleyball powerhouse Mt. Madonna just down the road.
Gilroy is the team to beat, Telfer said.
“We have to bring our game up,” Telfer said. “And I know we are capable of it. We are unable to sustain it long enough. But if we can, we will give Gilroy a run.”
