Bulldogs use previous rough treatment as motivation in sweep of
Gunderson
Morgan Hill – The last time the Sobrato High volleyball team faced off against Gunderson, the Grizzlies’ home crowd wasn’t very kind to the Bulldogs players.
That helped serve as a bit of motivation when Sobrato played host to Gunderson on Wednesday at the Centennial Recreation Center and the Bulldogs easily swept the Grizzlies, 25-15, 25-12, 25-7.
“I guess that’s what got them motivated, got them mad,” Sobrato head coach Rosemary Miller said.
Senior outside hitter Jordyn Hanne led the Bulldogs with 10 kills and said the team wanted to let its play do the talking.
“We wanted to make sure we were playing with respect for them so they could see how we play and not necessarily how we felt we were treated last time,” Hanne said.
The first game was close early on, with Gunderson taking a 3-2 lead and the teams exchanging points several times until it was tied 9-9. The Grizzlies kept it within reach at 14-12, but then Sobrato took over.
Junior setter Nicole Simoneau served two of her game-high seven aces during a 7-0 run to give the Bulldogs a 21-12 lead and an ace by sophomore outside hitter Laura Billos gave Sobrato the game.
Gunderson stayed close again in the second game and early on it was 7-6. But a 10-1 run by the Bulldogs put them in control of the game and they coasted to the win.
The third game was never in doubt. Sobrato had consecutive 8-1 runs to take a 16-2 lead and wrapped up the easy win when sophomore Ariel Mosbrucker served an ace to end the match.
Billos believed the intense atmosphere felt during both games against Gunderson should help the team as it closes in on an almost certain Central Coast Section playoff berth.
“I think it’s a really good experience,” said Billos, who had four kills. “It gets us used to it, that way we’re not surprised when it happens in CCS.”
