The Bulldogs are gearing up for their debut trip to the Central
Coast Section boys volleyball playoffs, a resounding achievement
for a group that scattered three wins across the previous two
seasons. First they have another milestone to put away Tuesday
MORGAN HILL
Sobrato coach Todd Anderson plans to run more advanced plays during his teams final two regular-season matches.
The Bulldogs are gearing up for their debut trip to the Central Coast Section boys volleyball playoffs, a resounding achievement for a group that scattered three wins across the previous two seasons.
Anderson wants to make it last.
“We won’t be able to survive on just blocking and hitting against the teams we’ll face,” he said Monday. “We have to come up with at least a smoother interaction and just try to finish as strong as we can to be ready for CCS.”
First the Bulldogs (13-9, 7-1) have another milestone to put away starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Branham (8-8, 5-3): an inaugural league championship they can make their own.
That was enough motivation for some of the Sobrato players to keep practicing last week during spring.
“They went down to the (Centennial Recreation Center) and played pick-up games,” Anderson said. “I was really happy to see that. The boys are excited to go all the way.”
The Bulldogs can set the tone for an exciting week in prep sports. Division titles will be decided in four other sports and local athletes will have a hand in each.
BOYS GOLF
The Live Oak boys golf team is poised for its best postseason in more than a decade.
The Acorns probably won’t come away with the top prize today in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Team Playoffs at Spring Valley Golf Course, or in Tuesday’s BVAL Individual Championship at San Jose Municipal Golf Course. But they face the possibility of qualifying four players — likely Cameron Moeller, twins Matt and Michael Jarvis and Marc Noble — for next week’s Central Coast Section Playoffs.
TRACK AND FIELD
Where to begin.
Sobrato holds three of the top pole vaulters in the CCS, let alone the BVAL. Austin Meldrum, Jackson Reid and Brandon Mancini may place first, second and third in the Santa Teresa championship meet Thursday at Westmont High School (semifinals are Tuesday). The top finishers advance to BVAL Finals, a qualifier for sectionals.
Sobrato’s other top contenders are Marissa Benjamin (200 and 400 meters), Rebekah Inouye (high jump), Steven Villareal (long jump), Winston van Keulen (1,600, 3,200), Obi Mbonu (100) and the 400 relay of Kate van Keulen, Jaclyn Periera, Cassandra Valenzuela and Benjamin.
Live Oak should smash in the boys relays. Its 4×100 of Kean Vaziry, Jacob Daw, James Walker and T.J. Ornduff and 4×400 of Alex Hafenbacker, Daw, James Walker, Jacob Montoya are ranked among the top 10 in the section.
Daw is a favorite in high jump, and Walker, Ornduff and Montoya will challenge for the podium in sprints.
BOYS TENNIS
Had they entered the Santa Teresa Division Singles Tournament, Live Oak seniors Derek and Dylan Johnson likely would have squared off Thursday in the semifinals or finals. Instead the senior twins are playing together in the doubles event, where they should have little trouble qualifying for BVALs.
Sobrato’s Tyler Pecsok also is in position to make a run at BVALs in singles play.
Opening rounds of the Santa Teresa Division tournaments begin Tuesday.
SWIMMING
While the Sobrato girls try to clinch their first Santa Teresa Division championship against visiting Oak Grove, the Live Oak teams begin preliminary swims in the Mount Hamilton Division Championships at 3 p.m. Thursday at Gunderson High School.
Finals heats are Friday.
Ryan McCombs (200-yard individual medley, 100 breaststroke) and Daniel Pawlak (50 and 100 freestyle) are closing in on sectional-qualifying times. Michelle Mikaelsson (200 IM, 100 breast) and Rachel Cretcher (200 and 100 free) should place in the top five in their swims and possibly in a relay with Eunice Kim and Marissa Sendejas.
The Sobrato teams compete in Santa Teresa Division Finals May 13-14 at Independence High School.
CORRECTION: Due to a reporter’s error, the location of the Santa Teresa Division track and field finals and semifinals was incorrectly stated in the print and initial online versions of this story. The two meets will be held at Westmont High School. Blossom Valley Athletic League Finals are May 12 at Mount Pleasant High School.
