LAS FLORES – Tesoro had already let two would-be victories slip through its grasp in the early going of league play and they weren’t going to let it happen again Tuesday at home against Trabuco Hills.
The Titans made no doubt about it as they recorded their first South Coast League victory in commanding fashion, 25-20, 25-13, 25-12, over the visiting Mustangs.
Junior outside hitter Seirra Bates was a force for the Titans, recording a game-high 22 kills.
“She’s a huge part of our team; she’s our biggest offensive weapon obviously,” Tesoro coach Rich Polk said. “And when passes like she did tonight she plays really smooth and that just feeds everything else for her.
“When she plays that hard and that consistent it makes it easier on everybody else.”
Middle blocker Brooke Walsh added 11 kills and distributed well in what Polk called one of the senior’s best passing games of the season. Drew Moore and Haley Riden also had multiple kills, recording three and two, respectively.
Bates set the pace immediately. Despite Trabuco Hills grabbing a quick a 6-1 lead in the first set, Bates finished with nine kills as Tesoro stormed back to win the opener.
“(The start) was very important to us because we needed tonight as our first (league) win,” Bates said. “And we really want to get this first game and we knew that if we worked together and worked hard enough, we could beat Trabuco in three, and we did that.”
The hosts scored the first five points of the second set and never trailed en route to the 12-point victory, punctuated by a Macy Looft ace.
It was much of the same in the third-and-final set as Tesoro capitalized on early errors from Trabuco Hills and never trailed.
Trabuco Hills coach Craig Moothart was not happy with the way his team responded to adversity as the match went on.
“The first game was good, we had our opportunities, I’m OK with that. The second and third, not good at all,” he said. “That team is clearly better than us but we need to have a little bit more heart and grit to stay in it.”
Allison Kantor led the Titans with seven kills while Karina Michelson added three and Shawnee Deoliveira had two in the losing effort. Trabuco Hills remains winless in league play.
The win moves Tesoro to 1-3 in South Coast League competition, heading into the final two weeks of the season.
“This match definitely gave us a lot of confidence,” Bates said. “We’re feeling pretty strong, we were a little shaky in the beginning but now we’ve got our confidence back and we’re hoping to pull through and make it to CIF.”
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