Hollister and Anzar High Schools meet in pre-season volleyball match

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In a March 5 preseason match, Hollister High School boys’ volleyball team might have been the predictable victor as they came up against Anzar High School, but that doesn’t mean the Hawks didn’t go down fighting to the end. 

While the Balers, in this first-ever matchup between the schools, took three straight sets— the first two with 10- and 13-point leads— the underdog San Juan Bautista team found its drive in the third to briefly tie the score at 21 before going down for a 25-21 loss.

“They kept the ball in play and got some good rallies,” said Baler coach Adrian Masoni. “They were a scrappy team, and I was excited. I would have been happy to see them take that set, and it would have been a learning moment for our guys.”

Anzar was at a disadvantage in at least one significant way: the team has only eight players, as opposed to Hollister’s 12, and one was out with an injury, which did not allow any real rotation for rest.

“Hollister is way out of our league,” said Anzar Head Coach Cameron Sloma. “They have some big hitters. We have a small group of boys, but they’re all super excited to be here, which is awesome. I am very proud of how they played.”

The difference in experience levels between the two teams allowed Masoni to stretch his players in ways he usually doesn’t.

“We put some guys into positions they don’t normally play,” he said, “and they just stepped up and did what we asked of them. In my eyes, the best part was not the performances, but the energy level. It was nice to see how loud the players on the bench were.”

Masoni said that the team still has plenty to work on and each practice is a learning experience, but the players have already been showing their strengths.

“We have some big hitters on this team,” he said. “Some guys that can win a point when we need one. We also have tough servers, so we can pressure the other team to get them out of their offense, making it easier for our defense.”

Masoni singled out Ronaldo Salas Ramirez and Henry Schwarzwaelder as two of the team’s top offensive weapons. 

“They are both outside hitters,” he said. “We rely on their passing to get our offense going in the first place. The hitting gets all of the oohs and aahs, but none of that happens without the passing. They both put in hard work and are the team’s leaders.”

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Masoni said Schwarzwaelder, a senior who has played varsity for the last three years, is never satisfied with the stage he’s at and is always asking what he can do to improve his performance.  Schwarzwaelder said he was pleased with the team’s offense and with his own efforts in the game.

“I think I played really well,” he said. “I brought some good energy and my hitting felt amazing. I can jump high and I’m tall so I can get real up high. I like to think I put on a decent show.”

Masoni said Ramirez, a junior, is following in Schwarzwaelder’s footsteps. 

“Henry sets a good example for him,” he said. “I see him continuing to build and grow and be the leader of this team for the next two years.”

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Ramirez said his athleticism and fast reflexes are his greatest strengths and that the team’s strong bond and communication skills help keep their energy up when they need it. He said he is optimistic about the team’s chances this year.

“I think we’re going to do pretty well,” he said. “We keep building up our strengths and our trust with each other. We could have done better tonight, but I think I’m fine with how we play.”

Ramirez said the team was able to run a lot of good combos during the game, but he was surprised at how well Anzar played.

“They did pretty good for a team with fewer players,” he said. “They started playing really hard, getting a lot of the balls up. I’d say that made the game a lot more fun.”

Anzar player Henry Murphy said he thought the team could have done better but was content with the results. 

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“Considering the flow and the rhythm and the amount of players and the exhaustion,” he said, “I think we did well. As we picked up momentum, I wanted to play more, honestly. It was super fun, more intense, and more locked in. I am looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Masoni, a tireless advocate for the sport, worked with Anzar head coach Ranch Hodges to pull the match together and has been encouraging students at that school to become involved in the San Andreas Volleyball Academy, San Benito County’s only club team.

“I’m just so excited that we have a second high school program in the county,” Masoni said. “And I wish them nothing but the best. I obviously want to come away with a victory, but I’m rooting for that program to just build and build.”

Sloma said that, win or lose, all she really had hoped for was that her team have fun that evening. 

“I was expecting them to go out there and get some plays done,” she said. “And that’s exactly what they did. Watching them play and seeing the smiles on their faces was exciting. They’re all very kind, and their sportsmanship is great. I appreciate that.”

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BenitoLink thanks our underwriter, Hollister Rotary, for helping expand the sports coverage around San Benito County. Rotary is a nonprofit organization that conducts humanitarian projects, encourages high ethical standards, and works toward world understanding. All editorial decisions are made by BenitoLink.

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