The Lady Balers' season came to an end Thursday night after losing in three games to Menlo-Atherton. Above, Ellie Burley tries to cheer up Sara Yamasaki after the game.
San Benito's Ellie Burley gets up to block a shot from a Menlo-Atherton player Thursday night at Watsonville in the semifinal round of the CCS playoffs.
"I think we went out well," San Benito senior setter Alisha Cornick said. "It would have been great to have kept going, but I think the way we went out, there's nothing to be ashamed of."
Losing in three games (19-25, 22-25, 20-25) to No. 2 Menlo-Atherton on Thursday night in the Central Coast Section Division I semifinals may not tell the whole story at first, however. But with San Benito implementing an all-out defensive approach in order to dig out Menlo-Atherton's biggest hitters, the No. 6 Lady Balers never buckled under the Bears' pressure, even if it seemed they were outnumbered on the attack.
"We never gave up," said Cornick, who had 22 assists and 17 digs. "We fought even when we were down."
Advancing to the CCS semifinals for the sixth year in a row, the Lady Balers played close to the Bears throughout the first and third sets, and nearly stole the second set after trailing by as many as 10 points.
Said Menlo-Atherton head coach Jennifer Wilson, "They made us work for each of our points."
How else would a three-game sweep earn "best of" status?
"That was the best we've played all season. We played inspired volleyball and at a fast pace," San Benito head coach Dean Askanas said. "Menlo-Atherton's just good.
"But I'm very proud of them. I thought they did terrific."
Countering Menlo-Atherton's powerful front row with a back line of Sam Klauer (22 digs), Sara Yamasaki (23 digs), Mari Vallejo and Raelynn Heredia (19 digs) - all defensive specialists in their own right - San Benito opted to pull back from the net and dig out the Bears' best efforts.
"And it was effective, too," Askanas said.
But "blessed" with plenty of height at the net, Menlo-Atherton prevailed behind 10 kills and 19 digs from Regina Mullen, and seven kills and four blocks from Diane Seely - both junior outside hitters for the Bears.
"I wish I was blessed with that height," said San Benito middle blocker Emily Tonascia, who had eight blocks and six kills for the Lady Balers Thursday.
Tonascia's block in the opening set pulled San Benito into a 15-15 tie with Menlo-Atherton, but the Bears showcased their guns for the remainder of the game when Kate Reardon, Sarah Collins and Katelyn Doherty (four kills, 14 digs) each contributed a kill and ignited a 10-4 run to close out Game 1.
"They're just a huge offensive and defensive team, and we played really, really great defense against them," Tonascia said. "But it's hard to get kills against a team like that."
Any momentum gained by Menlo-Atherton may have carried over to the second set, too. Jumping out to a 4-0 lead behind a block and a kill from Seely, the Bears grabbed an 8-1 lead after Mullen sent a screamer down the line.
"And it was hard to get kills against them because they had huge blocks," Tonascia said.
But when Menlo-Atherton increased its lead to 10, at 17-7, San Benito found a strong mix between its offense and defense that pinned the Bears back on their heels.
Back-to-back kills from Klauer and Denisia Dikes, who had seven kills on the night, opened up the Balers' attack. A kill from Tonascia then made it 18-10 and sparked San Benito's bench, while consecutive double hits called on the Bears brought the Lady Balers to within four.
Jessica Meade then delivered one of her six kills to make it 22-20 Menlo-Atherton, and put San Benito on a 13-5 spurt. But despite the rousing effort, the Bears pulled away at the very end, highlighted by a pair of points off the arm of Seely.
"They're an improved team," Askanas said. "When I watched them play Gilroy (last Saturday), I knew they were greatly improved. They were firing on all cylinders. They look like they're really in sync right now."
Menlo-Atherton swept Gilroy 25-8, 25-7, 25-20 during last weekend's quarterfinal round, which saw the Lady Balers upset No. 3 Evergreen Valley in five games. Thursday's semifinal match-up was actually the third meeting between San Benito and Menlo-Atherton, with the Bears taking a pair of meetings earlier this season at Spikefest I and the Menlo Invitational.
"Their offense is solid and they fight hard," Askanas said.
The Bears' offense grabbed a 15-9 lead in Game 3 when Collins provided another point, but the Lady Balers clawed their back into the game behind their digging defense, and trailed 22-20 after Tonascia stuffed consecutive M-A offerings at the net.
Mullen's tip on match point, however, proved to be the game winner.
"I thought their defense in that last game was incredible," Wilson said.
Menlo-Atherton (21-7) advances to the Division I championship as a result. It will square off against No. 1 Salinas (26-4) on Saturday at Independence High in San Jose. San Benito, meanwhile, wraps up its season at 20-18.
"They've always been a good competitor for us," Wilson said. "They make you earn those points."
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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The Score: Baler football and boys and girls water polo
