WATSONVILLE — There are still games to be played but after Tuesday night, it’s safe to say that there will be a new Monterey Bay League Pacific division champion.
The Pajaro Valley High Grizzlies swept cross-city rival Watsonville High, 25-18, 25-15, 25-19, to all-but assure that the Wildcatz will not repeat as MBL-P champions.
Instead, Pajaro Valley (11-6, 6-0) now has a clear path toward its first league title in program history if it can continue its dominant play against league opponents — it has won all six MBL-P matches in sweeps. The Grizzlies’ biggest hurdle will be a trip to second-place Gilroy High on April 20.
“That’s all we have to worry about,” said Pajaro Valley senior setter Ruben Garcia. “We’ve beat them before so there shouldn’t be a problem but that’s all we’re worrying about. Just Gilroy.”
The Grizzlies had not played in 10 days and practiced only once leading up to Tuesday as several players left town for spring break. But they showed little sign of rust, jumping out to a five-point lead early in Game 1 and setting the tone with strikes from senior outside hitter Rafael Betancourt and defense from freshmen Dennard Ocampo and Esteban Fernandez.
Watsonville (8-12, 3-3) kept Games 2 and 3 close until late but could not keep its offensive attack consistent throughout. Senior setter Jorge Maya and junior outside hitters Isaac Baltazar and Julian Zepeda did well enough to buoy the Wildcatz’s opportunistic offensive attack but the defense struggled with the Grizzlies’ power hitters late in sets.
Garcia made 21 assists, four digs and three aces, Betancourt added 12 kills and nine digs and Ocampo, a libero, had six digs and three aces. Fernandez, a 6-foot-1 middle, and senior outside hitter Geovanny Barajas combined for nine kills.
Pajaro Valley will host Monte Vista Christian on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
“We can be better,” Garcia said. “We can be way better than this. I wasn’t really satisfied with our play today but we got the win so that’s all that matters.”
Watsonville is not mathematically eliminated from earning a share of the MBL-P title but it would need a lot of help over the next few weeks to repeat as champion. Head coach Sue Jeske said the Wildcatz, who went 12-0 en route to the program’s second-ever league title last season, had a special group in 2016 and this year belongs to Pajaro Valley head coach Jamie Tsuji and her Grizzlies.
“They’ve worked really hard over the years to improve their program and it’s their turn,” Jeske said. “They’ve got their setter, their two best hitters and some great new players. They’re a good team.”
Watsonville will play in the Surf City Tournament on Saturday before returning to MBL-P play on April 20 at home against Soledad High.
The Grizzlies have only sniffed a league championship once in the program’s six previous years, finishing runner-up to Watsonville last season. Tsuji, who has been at the helm since the beginning, said she’s enjoying the ride after several tough seasons.
“Every year I’ve had the desire but it hasn’t been the whole team,” Tsuji said. “This year’s different. They have that desire. That’s good. They want to get better. They ask questions. It’s refreshing. It’s good for them to have that drive to get better.”
