Three years ago, the McAllen schools tied for the same district record, meaning they had to split a share of the title.
Such is the case each year, it seems, that all three have little separation between them in the district standings. At this point, however, all three are tied with 6-1 records in District 30-6A, and Saturday offers sixth-ranked McAllen Memorial and No. 4 McAllen Rowe an opportunity to gain separation, when they battle for the second time this season.
McAllen Memorial (30-7) swept Rowe (31-4) in the first meeting, giving the Lady Mustangs an advantage if they were to win again Saturday. Because tiebreakers are determined by head-to-head outcomes, Memorial would have a leg up in that regard with another win Saturday, should there be another tie at season’s end.
“There’s no telling what could happen,” Lady Mustangs coach Lorena Lopez said. “It could go either way for all three of us. I couldn’t tell you who could win (the district title) until it’s all over.”
Offensively, Memorial few errors in that match last month, when they handed Rowe its first loss to a Valley team this season. The Mustangs served well and hit their spots. Lopez is looking for the same from her squad, when they head on the road Saturday.
“I think at this point, every match is important,” she said. “We can’t afford another (loss).”
Rowe coach Magda Canales remembers her team was out of its comfort zone against a Memorial squad that was clicking on all cylinders. In the days leading up to this weekend, Canales said she didn’t have to reiterate the importance of coming away with a win to her team.
“Every single player knows (what this match means),” Canales said. “We coaches, we’ve talked about it. But, really, I didn’t have to say too much to them. They knew. They did all the talking and told us (the coaching staff) where we stand.
“The excitement is always there. When it’s a crosstown rivalry, it’s always going to be there. So we’re preparing. Not so much the physical aspect, but also the mental part.”
A potential win Saturday wouldn’t allow either team to breath a sigh of relief, with fifth-ranked McAllen High (30-5, 6-1) still waiting in the wings.
Especially not with the head-to-head history the three teams have.
“It doesn’t end here,” Canales said. “From there on, we need to focus on the rest of the second round (of district).”
McAllen Memorial has not lost since Sept. 27, when McAllen High completed a three-game sweep.
RANKED
All three McAllen schools in District 30-6A are ranked this week in the Texas Girls Coaches Association state volleyball poll.
McAllen Rowe held its position as the No. 17-ranked team. McAllen Memorial Memorial slid down from No. 24 into a two-way tie for No. 25 with Deerpark (25-8). And McAllen High, unranked last week, comes in at No. 22.
McAllen Rowe plays host to McAllen Memorial at 3 p.m. Saturday.
TIME CHANGE
Due to ACT testing, several volleyball games across the upper-Valley have changed the start time for their respective matches Saturday, some expected to be delayed by as many as three hours.
RGVSports.com Top 10 volleyball
1, Los Fresnos 28-9, 8-0 (1)
2, Mission Veterans 26-6, 6-0 (2)
3, Donna High 29-8, 8-0 (3)
4, McAllen Rowe 31-4, 6-1 (4)
5, McAllen High 30-5, 6-1 (5)
6, McAllen Memorial 30-7, 6-1 (6)
7, Edinburg North 27-10, 7-0 (7)
8, Brownsville Veterans 26-10, 7-1 (8)
9, Sharyland Pioneer 25-9, 6-1 (9)
10, Edcouch-Elsa 17-16, 7-1 (10)