One of the many perks - and there are many - of playing in the Central Coast Section Girls Volleyball Championships is the rematch, the second chance.
Earlier this season, the Anzar girls volleyball team fell in two tournament games (24-26, 13-25) to Saint Thomas More at the Mount Madonna Invitational, but were without one of their top players in Alex Flores - certainly a significant sidenote in any loss.
The No. 5 Hawks, though, Flores included, will have another chance at No. 4 More on Saturday when they open the Division V playoffs at Aptos High School, a match-up that wasn't slated when the CCS seedings were originally announced last Saturday.
More, which was previously listed as the No. 2 seed on Saturday, was moved to the 4-seed on Sunday after it was revealed the team submitted the wrong point average.
And Anzar (15-11), originally playing Castilleja on Saturday, gladly accepted the match with More.
"We would rather play Thomas More," Anzar coach Chris Wardlaw said. "We had a very slim shot against Castilleja and have a very good shot against Thomas More."
Despite the two opponents obvious record differences - Castilleja at 12-15 and Thomas More at 29-7 - Wardlaw points out that Castilleja plays in an "A" league, whereas the More Knights are part of a "C" league.
The Hawks, playing in the Mission Trail Athletic League where they compiled an 8-6 record, are part of a "B" league.
And after his Hawks battled the Knights close at the Mount Madonna invite, Wardlaw likes his chances the second time around.
"Having Alex (Flores) will hopefully be a big help," Wardlaw said. "The fact that we lost 26-24 against Saint Thomas More without our right side and with girls playing out of position, it shows me we can hang with them.
"It'll be much more competitive."
Flores was second on the team in blocks (15) and second in kills with 111 this season, behind only Erin Deleissegues' 181. Deleissegues also led the team in digs (460), aces (63) and service points (169).
Wardlaw said More isn't blessed with a lot of height, but the team is loaded with seniors that have played together through the years, as well as a strong setter.
"Their two outside hitters are good, but not at another level," the coach added. "We have seen girls similar in the MTAL."
The Anzar-More match, scheduled for 1 p.m., will be just one of four in the Division V playoffs on Saturday. No. 6 Pinewood (13-12) will battle No. 3 Castilleja (12-15); No. 7 Highlands Christian (18-9) will be up against No. 2 Mount Madonna (16-13); and No. 8 Pacific Collegiate (16-14) will look to upset top-seeded St. Francis (19-11).
And a win for Anzar on Saturday would send them to the semifinals on Thursday, most likely against No. 1 St. Francis.
Said Wardlaw, "That's gonna be tough."
Andrew Matheson Andrew Matheson is a sports writer for South Valley Newspapers. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 334 or at amatheson@svnewspapers.com.
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