BY MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Chemistry was an issue last year for McAllen High. It’s a topic of conversation again for the Lady Bulldogs, but for a different reason.
Why?
“The chemistry’s better now,” coach Paula Dodge said. “They’re more mature.”
On the heels of a 2012 first-round playoff ouster going into last year, something seemed missing from the Lady Bulldogs, despite their success.
Something was off.
“We weren’t really as connected as a team,” libero Julissa Villarreal said.
If it’s coming up now on the verge of another playoff run, it’s because McHi feels comfortable where it stands now — as the third-ranked team in the Valley and No. 14 among 6A teams in state.
“We just jelled this year,” outside hitter Dominique Peña said. “We’re close on and off the court, and that’s helped a lot.”
Even as it added new pieces this year, McHi has held its own. In one of the tougher districts in the Valley, the Lady Bulldogs emerged relatively unscathed, hoisting a 30-6A title outright after an 11-1 record.
In 40 matches, McHi lost only five times.
“We just trust each other,” setter Lexi Giusti said. “It goes back to confidence. We rely on each other more than we did last year. We trust that we’ll have each other’s back. I think we’ve just gained more confidence like that.”
By no means was 2013 a disaster. The Lady Bulldogs bounced back from a rebuilding year to come within a victory of the Sweet 16 — this after plugging in a few new faces while relying on some underclassmen.
“It was a big eye-opener for this year,” Villarreal said.
“I was proud of that then,” senior Shaney Warren added. “But with the talent that we have now and with the chemistry we have now, we’re looking to take a big step forward toward that (fourth-round) goal.”
The cohesion on the team is impressive, considering the circumstances. McHi returned only six players this year and filled the remaining holes with a freshman and some JV dark call-ups. Three seniors headline the roster. Even then, some of that on-court leadership was lost when Warren fractured a toe during the summer.
Warren sat out 2 1/2 months. On the day she was cleared to practice, Warren fractured another toe on the same foot. Doctors ordered her to rest another month.
Warren didn’t see it as time lost — just an opportunity to see things from a different vantage point.
“I got to witness everything from the bench. How we jelled on the court. Who works better in the front row to back row, back row to front. It helped.”
With Warren back in the mix, the Lady Bulldogs have three seniors guiding a relatively young squad.
Memories of last season’s playoff run are very much alive within the program. Going to the regional quarterfinals didn’t satisfy any hunger for success, even on the heels of a bi-district exit the year before.
It just fed into the whole “what if?” idea.
“I want to say it was unexpected from everyone, maybe even us (to do that well),” Warren said. “But that desire, that crave to win and take it all the way, that’s what’s pushing us now. We want to go as far as we possibly can.”
The first test comes Tuesday against Eagle Pass at Laredo Martin.
Does a district title and last year’s success raise expectations for McHi?
“No,” Dodge said. “I always have high expectations. In practices, in games, we always want to set high goals. Everybody does. Everybody wants to go the regional tournament or even farther.”
Dodge modified practice heading into this week, and not necessarily by lessening the load. Sure, McHi has gone through shorter practices since the regular season ended, but players were expected to go all-out in the limited time to simulate the pace of a postseason match.
“Playoffs is always much faster,” Warren said. “We play against each other and with the amount of talent we have, going 6 on 6, it challenges our defense, it challenges our blockers. There’s nothing we aren’t prepared for.”
That level of competition in practice is just one of the ways players have grown to build a rapport.
Off the court, the Lady Bulldogs engage regularly in team-bonding activities, such as Pasta Night, where players spoon over home-cooked meals together each week.
“I love it,” Warren said. “That just brings us together more. We all have uplifting personalities and I think we bring that on the court.
“We make a mistake and it’s on to the next point. We bring that energy, that uplifting energy. And I think that’s what allows us to be successful.”
Volleyball Playoff Schedule
Monday, Nov. 3
Class 6A Bi-district
>> McAllen Rowe vs. Laredo Alexander at Roma, 6:30 p.m.
Class 5A Bi-district
>> Edinburg Vela at Donna High, 7 p.m.
Class 4A Bi-district
>> Zapata vs. Orange Grove at Falfurrias, 7 p.m.
Class 3A Bi-district
>> Edinburg IDEA Quest vs. Bishop at Raymondville, 7 p.m.
Class 2A Bi-district
>> La Villa vs. Ben Bolt at Calallen, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 4
Class 6A Bi-district
>> McAllen High vs. Eagle Pass at Laredo Martin, 6 p.m.
>> Edinburg High at Brownsville Hanna, 6:30 p.m.
>> Edinburg North at Harlingen High, 7 p.m.
>> McAllen Memorial vs. Del Rio at Laredo Nixon, 7 p.m.
>> Mission High vs. Laredo United at Roma, 7 p.m.
>> Brownsville Veterans at Weslaco East, 7 p.m.
>> Weslaco High at Los Fresnos, 7 p.m.
Class 5A Bi-district
>> Mission Veterans at Mercedes, 7 p.m.
>> Sharyland Pioneer at PSJA High, 7 p.m.
>> Edcouch-Elsa vs. Roma at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 7 p.m.
Class 4A Bi-district
>> Grulla vs. Rockport-Fulton at San Diego, 7 p.m.
>> La Feria vs. Sinton at Bishop, 7 p.m.
>> Port Isabel vs. Beeville at Monte Alto, 6:30 p.m.
Class 3A Bi-district
>> Lyford at Falfurrias, 6:30 p.m.
>> Santa Rosa vs. Santa Gertrudis at Kingsville, 7 p.m.
>> Monte Alto vs. Banquete at Hebbronville, 7 p.m.
Class 2A Bi-district
>> Santa Maria vs. Riviera at Lasara, 7:30 p.m.