Gilman volleyball coach Neil Gabbey would like to take the first game of Wednesday’s match against visiting Boys’ Latin, put it under glass and preserve for the rest of his coaching career. It was a sight to behold.
Outstanding passing, serving and defense.
And the next two games weren’t bad, either, as the Greyhounds rolled to a 25-13, 25-13, 25-15 victory in Roland Park in a Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference match.
Gilman, the defending league champions, improved to 13-0.
Boys’ Latin coach Drew Haugh gave credit to the Greyhounds after the match.
“I think we are a pretty good team,” Haugh said. “But you to give them credit. They made us look bad. They are just that good. They are solid at every position. We couldn’t get any kills. We got blocked so much.”
Gilman dominated the Lakers (10-4) thanks to the play of senior setter Jack Auen (39 assists), senior outside hitter Torben Ginsberg (12 digs, 9 kills), senior middle hitter Ben Gantt (8 kills), senior middle hitter Zack Cohen (7 kills, 3 blocks) and senior opposite hitter Ben Moore (6 kills, 4 blocks).
“That’s the beautiful part of this team,” said Gabbey, whose squad has only lost four of 43 games this season. “It’s not about one guy.”
Boys’ Latin had no answers for Gilman in the first game. The Greyhounds jumped out to a 10-2 lead behind the serving of Auen and Ginsberg and blocking of two 6-foot-6 players, Moore and Cohen.
The Lakers fought back to make it 13-8, but Gilman closed with a 12-5 run.
The Greyhounds got off to a 6-1 lead in the second game before Boys’ Latin trimmed the margin to 8-6 because of senior outside hitter Joe Santangelo's strong play.
But Gilman finished with a flourish again, outscoring the Lakers, 17-5.
“This is the best Gilman team I have seen in a while,” Haugh said.“They have so many athletes. They never have a rebuilding year.”
Gilman fell behind 7-5 in the third game, pulled even at 8 and Ginsberg gave the Greyhounds the lead for good on a kill.
"I think because of our experience, my guys will look up at the scoreboard and see we are down 7-5 and say, 'We are OK,' " Gabbey said. "They know if we don't play well for a stretch, we will get out of it. It's a long game and it takes a while to get to 25 points."