MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
Marlene Hinojosa wasn’t sure what she had to start the year. Having graduated five players, and later losing two to injuries, the La Villa coach tempered expectations.
“I thought we were maybe going to finish in third place,” she said. “But as the season moved on, the girls got real good, they blended with each other and kind of closed the gaps.”
The Lady Cardinals (13-6 overall, 6-2 District 32-2A) finished second in league — like they did the year before — losing only to San Perlita, the district champs, en route to their fifth straight playoff appearance.
La Villa has come a long way since the beginning of the season, when it was admittedly rusty. The Lady Cardinals promoted three players from the junior varsity squad and had to adjust to a change in the offense, with a different setter in place.
Amber Pineles flourished in that role. She had hitting threats in Ruby Mireles, Sabrina Guerrero, Julissa Salazar, and all-around players Abigail Nunez and Nikki Montelongo to surge through district.
“We have a lot of potential all the way around,” Hinojosa said. “Even with the girls on the bench, they all worked hard this year and they showed growth with their skill set.
“When they were able to trust each other and help each other, that’s when I told them, ‘Sometimes it’s not the skill you have, but how mentally strong you are and how you work with each other.’ And that’s what they did.”
On Monday, they’ll face Ben Bolt at Calallen.
“They’re a little nervous, but I do feel we have a strong chance of taking a win,” Hinojosa said.
TAKING THE NEXT STEP
In its inaugural season in 2012, Monte Alto won only six matches. Last year, the Lady Blue Devils took a big step forward, despite losing a seeding match to Santa Maria for the final playoff spot.
This time, Monte Alto got in comfortably. The Lady Blue Devils finished with a 6-2 record in District 32-3A record. That No. 2 seed sets up a bi-district battle against Banquete on Tuesday at Hebbronville.
“I think their overall work ethic has helped,” coach Kerry Villarreal said. “The first day (of practice), I was worried the girls weren’t going to come back because I worked them really hard. I wasn’t sure what they were used to (with the previous coach). I asked why they came back and they said they wanted a coach who believed in them.
“So I guess me believing in them and giving them a workout instead of throwing the ball out and letting them do whatever helped.”
Monte Alto’s only district losses came to a senior-laden Lyford squad, giving Villarreal reason to feel encouraged about her program going forward.
“We’re flying high for the first time,” Villarreal said. “We’re a young team so we still have room to grow.”
GETTING OVER THE HUMP
For the past five years, Weslaco High’s playoff chances have hinged on the final two matches of the regular season.
This year is no different. In fact, the Lady Panthers will square off against PSJA Memorial on Saturday in a play-in match to determine the final postseason ticket in District 31-6A.
“We’re excited,” Weslaco first-year coach Anissa Garcia said. “My girls have great momentum. They’ve been very consistent these past few games and we’re just ready to get started.”
Memorial and Weslaco finished district with 5-7 records, having split their head-to-head matchups. By winning Saturday, the Lady Panthers can put an end to a playoff drought dating back to 2009.
“We’ve been talking about it since Day 1. We want to make the playoffs,” Garcia said. “It was tough in the first round (with a 2-4 district record), coming in and having a new coach and having to adjust to all the new information. But they’ve just really stepped it up.
“Our mental game was something we struggled with in the preseason and the first round. But skill-wise and mentally now, they’re playing very small volleyball.”
DISTRICT 30-6A
Over Dist
Team W L W L
yx-McAllen High 35 5 11 1
x-McAllen Rowe 34 5 10 2
x-McAllen Memorial 33 9 9 3
x-Mission High 17 19 6 6
La Joya High 13 25 4 8
L.J. Juarez-Lincoln — — 2 10
La Joya Palmview — — 0 12
x-Clinched postseason berth
y-Clinched district title
DISTRICT 31-6A
Over Dist
Team W L W L
yx-Edinburg North 31 11 11 1
yx-Edinburg High 30 7 11 1
x-Weslaco East 17 19 6 6
z-PSJA Memorial 15 21 5 7
z-Weslaco High 12 22 5 7
PSJA North 15 15 4 8
Ed. Economedes 1 27 0 12
x-Clinched postseason berth
y-Clinched share of district title
z-Will play seeding match
DISTRICT 32-6A
Over Dist
Team W L W L
yx-Los Fresnos 33 10 13 1
yx-Bro. Veterans 32 10 13 1
x-Brownsville Hanna 27 16 10 4
x-Harlingen High — — 8 6
Harlingen South 20 19 5 9
San Benito 13 16 5 9
Brownsville Rivera 12 27 2 12
Brownsville Lopez — — 1 13
x-Clinched postseason berth
y-Clinched share of district title
DISTRICT 31-5A
Over Dist
Team W L W L
yx-Mission Veterans 31 6 12 0
x-Sharyland Pioneer 29 10 10 2
x-Roma 28 10 7 5
x-Edinburg Vela 22 16 6 6
Sharyland High 20 23 5 7
Valley View — — 2 10
Rio Grande City — — 0 12
x-Clinched postseason berth
y-Clinched district title
DISTRICT 32-5A
Over Dist
Team W L W L
yx-Donna High 34 9 13 1
yx-Edcouch-Elsa 22 16 13 1
x-PSJA High — — 8 6
x-Mercedes 21 17 7 7
Brownsville Porter 11 15 6 8
PSJA Southwest 15 19 4 10
Brownsville Pace 9 19 4 10
Donna North 6 28 1 13
x-Clinched postseason berth
y-Clinched district title
DISTRICT 32-4A
Over Dist
Team W L W L
xy-La Feria 27 12 12 2
xy-Port Isabel 26 10 12 2
xy-Zapata — — 12 2
x-Grulla 17 17 7 7
Progreso* 6 24 4 9
Rio Hondo* — — 4 9
Raymondville* — — 2 10
Hidalgo* — — 1 12
x-Clinched postseason berth
y-Clinched share of district title
*Scores not reported
DISTRICT 32-3A
Over Dist
Team W L W L
xy-Lyford 27 9 8 0
x-Monte Alto — — 6 2
x-Edinburg IDEA — — 6 2
x-Santa Rosa 12 16 3 5
Brownsville Frontier — — 0 8
x-Clinched postseason berth
y-Clinched district title
DISTRICT 32-2A
Over Dist
Team W L W L
xy-San Perlita — — 7 1
x-La Villa 13 6 6 2
x-Santa Maria — — 5 3
Lasara — — 0 6
San Isidro — — 0 8
x-Clinched postseason berth
y-Clinched district title
RGVSports.com
Top 10
Team Record Prv.
1, Mission Vets 31-6 2
2, Los Fresnos 33-10 1
3, McAllen High 33-5 4
4, Donna High 34-9 3
5, McAllen Rowe 34-5 5
6, Bro. Veterans 32-10 7
7, McMemorial 33-9 6
8, Shary Pioneer 29-10 8
9, Edcouch-Elsa 22-16 9
10 (t), Ed. North 31-11 10
10 (t), Ed. High 30-7 NR